Power stations that burn gas or coal waste roughly half their fuel's energy as heat. This project trains 15 doctoral researchers to redesign those power cycles using supercritical carbon dioxide—a fluid with properties between a gas and a liquid—to capture more of that heat and convert it into electricity. Today's steam-based power plants are bulky, inefficient, and struggle to respond quickly to fluctuating demand from renewable sources like wind and solar. Supercritical CO₂ systems can be far more compact, operate at higher temperatures, and ramp up or down in seconds rather than minutes. The research develops computer models to integrate these systems with various heat sources—from concentrated solar plants to industrial waste heat—and creates tools to predict how they behave during rapid changes in operation. It also investigates new materials and coatings that can withstand the extreme pressures and temperatures involved. If successful, the technology could make thermal power generation significantly more efficient, reduce carbon emissions from existing fossil-fuel plants while they remain in use, and enable better integration of intermittent renewables into the grid. The 15 doctoral candidates trained through this programme will form the skilled workforce needed to build and operate these systems at commercial scale.
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This four-year work programme is to undertake cutting edge multidisciplinary research and development to make a step change in understanding of Supercritical CO2 based power generation systems' technology and its potential to enable a step change in thermal energy power cycles to be a major contributor to achieving the 2050 zero emissions targets while providing specialised training for 15 doctoral researchers to help establish the backbone of an important industry. The technical objectives of this research are: 1- Develop advanced models and design tools that enable the optimal integration of sCO2 power systems components for various thermal energy sources and end use applications 2- Develop accurate prediction tools for the simulation of transient operation of sCO2 power cycles and investigate innovative concepts of control and optimisation of operation 3- Develop innovative methods to enhance aerodynamic and mechanical performance, reliability, and operability of key system components 4- Develop advanced modelling and experimental methods that enable selection and development of materials, coatings and manufacturing techniques To achieve the objectives of this training programme effectively, ISOP proposes four research WPs and requests funding from the EU for 15 Doctoral Candidates for a total of 540 person months who will work on an ambitious plan to advance the sCO2 power cycles technology beyond the state-of-the-art. The project aims to contribute to the EU agenda on European Research Area by training "a new generation of creative, entrepreneurial and innovative early-stage researchers", who can face future challenges and to "convert knowledge and ideas into products and services for economic and social benefit". In addition, support to and compliance with the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals will be at the heart of the training of the doctoral candidates and the scientific and economic outcomes of this research.
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