In Brief

SAM.SSA aims at developing new phase change materials, i.e. substances with a high fusion heat which, melting and solidifying at a certain temperature, are capable of storing and releasing large amounts of energy, for thermal energy storage applications in the range of medium temperatures. Existing phase change materials are hardly suitable for thermal energy seasonal storage applications due to insufficient energy densities and due to the high risk of solidification during the storage period because of their specific melting points. 

These challenges will all be overcome by the materials proposed in SAM.SSA. The project partners will develop molecular alloys based on sugar alcohols, so called MASA, whose melting point can be adjusted, which have an increased energy density and for which the risk of solidification can be minimized. Right from the start of the project the research will be oriented towards future applications of the products in the building sector and will be guided by requirements imposed by such applications.

With an overall budget of roughly 4 million euros and 9 partners from 7 European countries, the SAM.SSA project is coordinated by the Centre National de Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) in France. April 2012 marked the start of the project with the Kick-Off Meeting at CNRS' regional base in Bordeaux, France. On this occasion the project partners settled the basis for carrying out the planned work within the project's lifetime of 3 years. The specialised experience of all partners in their dedicated field of research will ensure the project's success.