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A TRL 7 prototype project developed for Megaray’s domestic hot water demand, demonstrating a heat pump-integrated Thermal Energy Storage system with AI-supported energy market optimization.
Project Overview
The Megaray Prototype Project was developed to validate the real-world operating concept of a heat pump-assisted Thermal Energy Storage system for hot water applications. The system was designed to store thermal energy efficiently and discharge it according to the facility’s hot water demand.
Within the project, the working concept of the system was successfully demonstrated under operational conditions. AI-supported charge and discharge simulations were developed and tested using internet-connected electricity market price data. This enabled the system to optimize charging periods according to low-cost electricity windows and improve overall energy cost performance.
The prototype achieved 90% thermal efficiency and delivered up to 50% reduction in energy costs compared to a conventional electric water heating system.
Key Highlights
- Project maturity: TRL 7 prototype validation
- Application: Hot water supply for industrial facility use
- Solution: Heat pump-integrated Thermal Energy Storage system
- Control strategy: AI-supported charge/discharge optimization
- Market integration: Internet-connected electricity price tracking
- Thermal efficiency: 90%
- Energy cost reduction: Up to 50% compared to standard electric water heating
- Project outcome: System working concept successfully proven
Technology Used
Heat Pump-Assisted Thermal Energy Storage
The system uses a heat pump to increase thermal efficiency and store usable heat in a dedicated thermal storage unit. By combining thermal storage with AI-supported energy market analysis, the system can shift energy consumption to more favorable electricity price periods.
Impact
The project demonstrated that thermal energy storage can be used not only as a technical energy solution, but also as a commercial optimization tool. By shifting electrical consumption to lower-cost periods and storing energy as heat, the system reduced operating costs while maintaining reliable hot water availability.