DTU Energy Conversion

In a sustainable energy system, with much energy coming from solar energy and wind energy, which by their nature are highly variable, it is essential to transform and store energy. Department of Energy Conversion and Storage focuses on technologies and materials for the conversion of various forms of energy and their subsequent storage. Such technologies will play a major role in an energy system based on renewable energy sources.

Fuel cells, electrolysis cells, batteries, solar cells and thermoelectric components are important examples of the department’s research into conversion technologies. Fuel cells and batteries (during discharge) convert chemical energy directly into electrical energy, while electrolysis cells and batteries (during charge) convert electrical energy into chemical energy. Solar cells convert energy from sunlight into electrical energy, and thermoelectric components convert heat into electricity. Common to these technologies is that the conversion happens without ' movable parts', i.e. without using mechanical energy as an intermediate step. This gives potential for high efficiency.

The problem of storage is closely related to conversion technologies: Most of the renewable energy sources, which will be prevalent in the future sustainable energy system, are fluctuating by nature. This applies in particular to solar and wind energy. It is therefore difficult to ensure a balance between production and consumption, if there is no possibility for storing electrical energy. This can be done either in batteries or in the form of an energy rich fuel produced by electrolysis. An obvious candidate for such an energy carrier is hydrogen, which can be stored in solid form in e.g. metal hydrides. Alternatively, it is possible to produce synthetic fuels for vehicles using electrolysis. This will allow renewable energy to be incorporated into the transport sector without costly new infrastructure. Such storage technologies are another key area of focus at the new department.

DTU Energy Conversion has been established by gathering world-class competencies from different departments at DTU. From Risø DTU: Fuel Cells and Solid State Chemistry Division, an international leader in solid oxide fuel cells and electrolysis cells, the Solar Energy Progamme, which has a unique position within polymer solar cells and parts of the Materials Research Division, which, among other things, is occupied with batteries, energy storage and superconductivity. From DTU Chemistry comes a strong research group specialising in polymer fuel cells. 

Student projects

Head of Department: Søren Linderoth

DTU Energy Conversion
Frederiksborgvej 399
P.O. Box 49
DK-4000 Roskilde
Denmark
Tel: +45 4677 5800
Fax: +45 4677 5858