A pioneering solar energy system which could help to reduce heating bills and the need for fossil fuels is currently being tested in Ireland.

The MiniStor thermal energy storage system captures heat from the sun and sends it to a compact heat store which is suitable for family homes, helping reduce heating bills.

This has been created by researchers at the International Energy Research Centre (IERC) based at Tyndall National Institute, a research flagship of University College Cork, as part of the, EU Horizon Europe funded project.

This project is in collaboration with Cork City Council and 11 other partners from across the continent. It aims to reduce, or potentially remove, the need for solid fuel, oil or gas based heating systems in homes.

The MiniStor system is currently being tested at a residential site in Cork City, where it will operate for 6 months to assess its performance in an Irish climate. 

This demonstration is one part of four European locations: Ireland, Spain, Greece, and Hungary, ensuring adaptability across diverse climatic conditions and paving the way for broader market adoption.

The core of the MiniStor (Minimal Size Thermal and Electrical Energy Storage System for In-Situ Residential Installation) project is a novel approach to energy storage, offering a sustainable solution to store and manage heat and electricity from renewable sources such as solar energy. 

With a storage capacity 10 times greater than that of water, the system has the potential to provide a practical, compact solution to storing large amounts of heat.

Dr Carlos Ochoa, Senior Researcher, IERC at Tyndall, said, “The MiniStor device has the potential to provide homes in Ireland and Europe with another option, in addition to building fabric improvement, heat pumps and domestic solar panels, to achieve a future with clean and affordable energy for all.”

The system collects thermal and electrical energy from the sun through solar collectors, storing it by heating up salt compounds that creates a thermochemical reaction. 

This heat is then released as needed through a hot water circuit and heat pump for use both in heating and in domestic hot water.

Integrating cutting-edge storage technology with renewable energy, the project provides a scalable, sustainable model for European households aiming to reduce carbon footprints and energy costs reducing the cost and complexity of retrofitting existing homes and accelerating the decarbonisation of Irish and European building stock.