Building a Modelling–Experimental Partnership for Phase-Change Thermal Storage

Heat accounts for around half of global energy consumption and 40% of energy-related CO₂ emissions, making its decarbonisation essential for meeting climate targets. Deploying renewable heat at scale requires effective energy storage, and phase-change materials offer a particularly attractive solution through latent heat storage with high energy density. However, limitations in heat transfer and power delivery currently restrict their practical application. Overcoming these challenges demands tightly integrated modelling and experimental research, with close collaboration to understand the strengths and limitations of each approach.

This initiative brings together complementary modelling and experimental expertise at the University of Warwick (UoW) and the University of Toronto (UoT) to establish a sustained and strategic research partnership aimed at future externally funded projects, particularly through Horizon Europe. The initiative comprises a joint research project on supercooling in phase-change materials, a research visit to UoW to enable intensive collaboration and capability building, and a two-day workshop at Warwick on phase-change materials and latent heat storage, bringing together leading European researchers.

• Warwick PI: Dr Ferran Brosa PlanellaLink opens in a new window

• U of T PI: Dr Minghan XuLink opens in a new window