Energy Activated External Thermal Insulation Composite System – integration of thermal storage and photovoltaics for energy-efficient buildings
Project title
Energy Activated External Thermal Insulation Composite System – integration of thermal storage and photovoltaics for energy-efficient buildings
Name of Beneficiary/Beneficiaries
Lodz University of Technology (Leader) – Poland
Sto Sp. z o.o. – Poland
Polymer Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences – Slovakia
Tallinn University of Technology – Estonia
Name of programme
International projects
Competition
M-ERA.NET Call 2018
Project value
EUR 521,750
Funding value
EUR 475,750
Project delivery period
1 October 2019 – 30 September 2022
Meet our team
Project Manager:
Dariusz Heim (Lodz University of Technology)
Scientific experts:
Dominika Knera, Anna Wieprzkowicz, Andrzej Obraniak (Lodz University of Technology)
Ivan Chodak, Zdenko Spitalsky (Polymer Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences)
Targo Kalamees, Simo Ilomets, Martin Talvik (Tallinn University of Technology)
Industry expert:
Dariusz Czarny (Sto sp. z o.o.)
See the results of our work
View of the experimental installation on the building of the Technical University of Lodz
Video
What problem does our project solve?
The main objective of the En-ActivETICS project was to develop a lightweight and energy-activated thermal insulation system as an innovative solution for façade applications. This objective is extremely topical due to the changing technical requirements for new and retrofitted buildings, which still represent a significant part of the building stock in Europe. These requirements dictate not only an improvement in the thermal insulation of the building envelope but also an increase in the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources. Photovoltaic panels integrated into the building envelope are a rational way to achieve a zero-emissions building standard. At the same time, the External Thermal Insulation Composite System – ETICS, is the most commonly used and economically viable method of improving the energy performance of the external walls of buildings. Thus, the proposed En-ActivETICS system is a solution for achieving the climate policy goals of the European Union, including achieving climate neutrality in 2050. In the project, the stated goal was achieved by developing a system that combines the advantages of a traditional external thermal insulation composite system (ETICS) with a phase change material (PCM) with a high heat capacity and flexible photovoltaic panels (FPV) for electricity generation. Original elements from a scientific and exploratory point of view include both replacing traditional PV panels with flexible (or semi-flexible) panels and proposing thermal stabilisation of the system through the use of phase change materials. In addition, the innovative elements include the development, fabrication and testing of the energy-efficient building component of En-ActivETICS, including the analysis of its hygrothermal and mechanical properties, as well as the demonstration of the proposed solution in a climate chamber and on existing buildings, under operational conditions.
Who will benefit from the project's results?
The project results are aimed at the construction industry in general, and building system (including insulation system) manufacturers in particular. Manufacturers of building materials may also be interested in the project due to the development and filing of a patent for a new cementitious composite based on granulates modified with phase change material. In addition, the results obtained are in the area of professional activities of companies in the electricity sector, especially in the area of photovoltaics, companies providing energy consulting, energy auditing and support for investments in the area of energy efficiency. Ultimately, the recipients of the project results will be the users of the buildings, mainly prosumers of renewable energy.
What was the biggest challenge for us in implementing the project?
The biggest challenge was to develop a material to effectively stabilise the temperature of photovoltaic panels integrated into the thermal insulation layer. Also, the technology itself and execution of the developed system in real scale posed a major challenge for the project team.