Latent heat thermophotovoltaic batteries

• Published in: Joule Vol. 6; no. 2; pp. 418 - 443
• Main Authors: Datas, Alejandro, López-Ceballos, Alicia, López, Esther, Ramos, Alba, del Cañizo, Carlos
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 16.02.2022
• Subjects: cogeneration; combined heat and power; energy storage; high temperature; long duration energy storage; power-to-heat-to-power; silicon; thermal battery; thermal energy; thermophotovoltaics; cogeneration; silicon; energy storage; thermophotovoltaics; power-to-heat-to-power; thermal battery; thermal energy; combined heat and power; long duration energy storage; high temperature
• ISSN: 2542-4351; 2542-4351
• DOI: 10.1016/j.joule.2022.01.010

Latent heat thermophotovoltaic (LHTPV) batteries store electricity as latent heat at very high temperatures (>1,000°C) and convert this heat back to electricity on demand using thermophotovoltaics (TPVs). In this study, we discuss the techno-economics of LHTPV systems, focusing on parameters such as the round-trip efficiency, energy-to-power ratio, cost per energy and power capacities, and levelized cost of storage. The very low cost of the heat storage media (<4 €/kWh) results in optimal designs with high energy-to-power ratios, fitting long-duration storage (LDS) applications. Shorter-duration storage applications are also possible by increasing the overall round-trip conversion efficiency through cogeneration, that is, combined heat and power (CHP) generation. Results indicate that LHTPV systems can provide lower levelized cost of storage than Li-ion batteries in both LDS and CHP applications. Preliminary experimental results are provided to illustrate the real operation of a LHTPV system. [Display omitted] •A techno-economic assessment of LHTPV batteries is presented•Cost per energy storage capacity can be lower than 10 €/kWh at large scales•Levelized cost can be lower than Li-ion batteries in long-duration (>10 h) applications•Levelized cost can be lower than Li-ion batteries in cogeneration applications The availability of cost-effective energy storage technologies with durations from 10 h to several days is key for variable renewable energy sources to become major contributors to electricity generation. In upcoming years, battery prices are expected to remain too high, with energy storage as heat emerging as a cheaper and more promising solution. Even if there is an efficiency penalty in converting heat back to electricity, the low cost of heat storage is a big advantage, especially because this conversion is not always necessary, since heat accounts for about 50% of global energy demand. Latent heat thermophotovoltaic batteries allow for much lower cost than state-of-the-art electrochemical batteries and can provide both heat and electricity on demand, which make them attractive for grid-scale, long-duration energy storage, and distributed dispatchable cogeneration. This article provides a techno-economic assessment of this technology in the context of these two main applications. Latent heat thermophotovoltaic (LHTPV) batteries store electricity in the form of high-temperature latent heat and convert it back to electricity on demand, using thermophotovoltaics. LHTPV allows for much lower cost than state-of-the-art electrochemical batteries and can provide both heat and electricity on demand. These features make them attractive for long-duration energy storage in grid-scale applications and for distributed heat and power dispatchable generation. This article provides a techno-economic assessment of this technology in the context of these two main applications.