Our projects
Further information about our projects, publications and researchers please find in Estonian Research Information System.
ETIS brings together information on research and development institutions, researchers, research projects and various research results. The Estonian Science Portal is a part of ETIS aimed for the public. The Estonian Research Portal collects information on research in Estonia and is an information exchange environment.
Local Heat Planning – Achieving the heat transition in BSR municipalities (PlanHeat)
Project period: March 2025 – February 2028
Funding programme: Interreg Baltic Sea Region 2021-2027
Project description: The heating sector is a major source of emissions in the Baltic Sea region and its decarbonization is crucial. To encourage the transition to more sustainable heating solutions, the EU requires municipalities with more than 45,000 inhabitants to develop local heat plans. The PlanHeat project aims to assist local authorities in this endeavour, by creating a transnational manual on local heat planning. Involving municipalities and experts from seven countries, it will provide guidance on data use, technologies, staff training, stakeholder involvement, and financing. In the final project phase, “Ambassador Cities”, that are involved in project activities from the start, will help to promote and distribute the manual region-wide.
Contact: Kertu Lepiksaar, Project Manager, +372 58162989, [email protected]
Project development for active control of thermochemical transformations of regional biomass resources with improved quality of produced energy and increase of European climate neutrality (BioTech)
The purpose of the project: development of an international project within the framework of the competition announced by Horizon or another international program in the field of climate change and environmental protection.
Activities planned in the project:
- Monitoring of tenders of Horizon and other programs announced in 2023, in order to search for a tender related to the control and improvement of biofuel gasification and bioenergy production processes;
- Evaluation of the selected competition in the field of biofuel and bioenergy production control and development technologies, process control, numerical simulation and sustainability;
- Preparation of advanced project activities within the BioTech project;
- Seek partners for the execution of an improved proposal;
- Preparation of an in-depth project application within the BioTech project, its submission and planned result.
The project is implemented by: LU Institute of Physics in cooperation with partners from Lithuania (Kaunia University of Technology), Estonia (Tallinn University of Technology) and Norway (SINTEF)
Project implementation period: 11.05.2023 - 30.04.2024.
Project contract number: EEZ/BPP/LZP/2023/2
Project ID number: EEA-RESEARCH-55RC
Total funding of the project: EUR 60,000.00, of which EUR 51,000.00 (85%) is European Economic Area funding and EUR 9,000.00 (15%) is co-financing from the Latvian state budget.
Scientific leader of the project: Maija Zaķe, leading researcher of the Institute of Physics of the Lithuanian University of Technology
SekMo - Cross-Sectoral Mobility Measure
Project: Direct capture of carbon dioxide from the air (DAC technology)
Project period: 01.02.2026–31.01.2028
Funding: 135 946 EUR
Funder: The State Shared Service Center
The project aims to develop and test—through collaboration between the university and an expert—solutions for the efficient and sustainable capture of CO2 directly from the air. The project relates to meeting climate goals, improving energy efficiency, fostering collaboration between scientists and engineers, evaluating the implementation of scientific solutions, and boosting the emergence and growth of (start-up) enterprises.
PROJECT GOALS
The project aims to conduct research on CO2 capture using DAC technology. Planned activities include:
- constructing a laboratory test rig;
- conducting laboratory tests to determine the factors influencing CO2 capture efficiency (based on liquid sorbents);
- creating models to simulate CO2 capture processes using the DAC system under various conditions;
- developing a test rig and a small-scale prototype, and testing them under real-world conditions.
Based on the test results, various operating modes and configurations of DAC systems will be analysed to identify the most stable and energy-efficient solution for CO2 capture. Additionally, the applicability of laboratory-derived results to actual large-scale systems will be investigated.
The project results in:
- a laboratory test setup that can also be used in future studies (e.g., for testing other sorbents);
- scientific publications based on the test results;
- models enabling the analysis of the technology's efficiency;
- a small-scale prototype or a concept for one;
- recommendations and technical conclusions guiding future research and the design of new systems.
High-temperature thermal energy storage enabling a second life for existing fluidized bed boilers with a high efficiency (HIGHWAY)
Project period: 01.12.2025–31.05.2029
Funders: Foundation Environmental Investment Center, European Commission
PROJECT GOALS
Retrofitting existing fossil-fired fluidized bed power plants with high-temperature thermal energy storage systems is a promising approach for the flexible CO2-free provision of electricity and heat.
The necessary modifications to existing fossil-fired fluidized bed power plants are identified. The charging and discharging cycles are tested using a 1 MWh thermal energy storage system, with a target of at least 500 operational hours. The charging process is carried out using an electric heater (100 kW) powered by renewable electricity to heat air to 1200 °C. The heated air is then passed through a bed of particles (e.g., aluminum oxide), where heat transfer takes place between the hot air and the bed. During the discharge process, cold air is fed into the bed and the heat is transferred from the hot particles to the air, which is fed into a water-steam cycle with a thermal capacity of 100 kW to generate superheated steam.
Different numerical models (steady-state, dynamic and CFD models) are developed, rigorously validated through experimental data and applied to design modifications. The concept is evaluated in terms of electrical efficiency, economic viability and environmental and social impact. Co-financed by the Environmental Investment Centre.
Contact: Oliver Järvik, [email protected]
