Secure energy supply is of great importance for industry and can only be achieved through the optimal use of all available renewable resources in order to meet international climate targets.

The innovation of CORES lies in fields of  identification, evaluation and the design of technically, energetically (in terms of exergy) and economically optimised combinations of renewable energy technologies (selected from waste heat, solar process heat, heat pumps, storage, PV and PVT) to cover the industrial process heat demand with renewable energy technologies. For this purpose, an optimisation algorithm has been developed which combines technology-specific parameters (key performance indicators) for the whole system based on comprehensible evaluation criteria (global performance indicators) thus generating a system optimum. Based on system simulations and their application to three industrial case studies, control concepts for the operation of the technology combinations are derived.

CORES will be jointly organized with 2 consortia from Germany and Switzerland in a D-A-CH-project in order to create synergies in the field of optimised integration of an industrial company into grid-connected (thermal) energy supply as well as in deriving innovative economic evaluation parameters (non-energetic advantages, business and financing models). Through a joint dissemination, target groups (industry, planners, technology providers) in the German-speaking and European area will be addressed and integrated into the development in order to achieve maximum impact.

The Research Unit for Thermodynamics and Thermal Engineering has been dealing with concentrating solar systems (CSP - Concentrated Solar Power) for some time.

In addition to the direct conversion of solar radiation into electrical energy using photovoltaics (PV), the path of energy conversion from solar radiation via high-temperature thermal energy to electrical energy is still a significant alternative. With this, the solar radiation is bundled via line or point concentrators before it hits a thermal receiver. As a result, higher temperatures can be reached than with planar receivers, which enables the thermal energy to be stored at high temperatures and allows the thermal energy to be converted into electrical energy with high efficiencies. In particular, the storage of thermal energy brings advantages over a PV path.

Valuable research collaborations and publications have emerged in the course of research on CSP systems. - Here is a short excerpt:

U. Leitner:
"Numerische Analyse der Intensitätsverteilung am Absorber eines pneumatisch vorgespannten Solarkonzentrators";
Betreuer/in(nen): K. Ponweiser; Institut für Thermodynamik und Energiewandlung, 2009.

M. Hartl:
"Pneumatisch vorgespannter Solarkonzentrator - theoretische Betrachtungen und praktische Erfahrungen";
Betreuer/in(nen), Begutachter/in(nen): K. Ponweiser, F. Rauscher; Institut für Energietechnik und Thermodynamik, 2010; Rigorosum: 11.10.2010.

C. Diendorfer:
"System Design and Analysis of Floating Solar Power Plants";
Betreuer/in(nen), Begutachter/in(nen): M. Haider, F. Rammerstorfer; Institut für Energietechnik und Thermodynamik, 2014; Rigorosum: 25.06.2014.

M. Lauermann:
"Pneumatic prestressed solar concentrator - thermal and optical analyses";
Betreuer/in(nen), Begutachter/in(nen): K. Ponweiser, F. Rauscher; Institut für Energietechnik und Thermodynamik, 2015.

M. Heigl:
"Entwicklung des pneumatisch vorgespannten Solarkonzentrators vom Prototyp bis zur Serienreife";
Betreuer/in(nen), Begutachter/in(nen): K. Ponweiser, R. Willinger; Institut für Energietechnik und Thermodynamik, 2015.

E. Esmaeili:
"Electrolytic solar water splitting at elevated temperatures a thermodynamic approach";
Betreuer/in(nen), Begutachter/in(nen): K. Ponweiser, J. Fleig, A. Werner; Institut für Energietechnik und Thermodynamik, 2017.

G. Oberndorfer:
"Sensitiv of Annual Solar Fraction for Solar Space and Water Heating Systems to Tank and Collector Heat Exchanger Parameters";
Betreuer/in(nen): W. Linzer; Institut für Technische Wärmelehre, 1999.

G. Fuchs:
"Measurement and Control of a Pneumatic Solar Concentrator";
Betreuer/in(nen): K. Ponweiser; Institut für Thermodynamik und Energiewandlung, 2008.

M. Garcia Ano:
"Investigation of the Optical Behavior of a Concentrating Solar Collector";
Betreuer/in(nen): K. Ponweiser; Institut für Thermodynamik und Energiewandlung, 2008.

V. Layec:
"Formfinding of inflatable solar concentrators";
Betreuer/in(nen): K. Ponweiser; Institut für Thermodynamik und Energiewandlung, 2008.

D. Wertz:
"Comparison between various concepts of Solar Thermal Power Plants";
Betreuer/in(nen): H. Walter; Institut für Thermodynamik und Energiewandlung, 2008.

D. Wagner:
"Investigation of Solar Cells for a Concentrating Solar Collector";
Betreuer/in(nen): K. Ponweiser; Institut für Thermodynamik und Energiewandlung, 2009.

A. Miguez da Rocha:
"Analysis of Solar Retrofit in Combined Cycle Power Plants";
Betreuer/in(nen): A. Steiner, M. Haider; Institut für Energietechnik und Thermodynamik, 2010.

A. Bacher:
"Auswirkung erhöhter Einspeisung durch Solar- und Windkraftlagen auf die Betriebsweise von Wasserkraftanlagen";
Betreuer/in(nen): C. Bauer, E. Doujak; E302 - Institut für Energietechnik und Thermodynamik, 2013; Abschlussprüfung: 05/2013.

L. Panzer:
"Design and simulation of a solar tower cavity receiver with "solar salt" as heat transfer fluid";
Betreuer/in(nen): M. Haider; Institut für Energietechnik und Thermodynamik, 2015.

H. Ernst:
"Erarbeitung des Festigkeitsnachweises sowie Entwicklung eines Stabilisierungssystems einer Heliofloat Luftkissenplattform";
Betreuer/in(nen): R. Eisl, M. Haider; Institut für Energietechnik und Thermodynamik, 2018.