Industrial heat modelling
Represent baseline demand, constraints, and operating profiles for industrial processes.
Optimisation, simulation, and decision support for industrial heat —
built for measurable cost and emissions reduction.
OptiFEM is a modelling and optimisation platform for industrial thermal energy systems. INNOV8HEAT applies PCMs, high‑temperature heat pumps (HTHP), and AI‑driven scheduling to convert surplus renewable electricity into useful heat when and where it matters.
The platform is designed for engineers, energy managers, and decision‑makers who need to move from “good ideas” to quantified retrofit plans. OptiFEM combines site data, equipment models, and scenario management to evaluate options such as electrification, storage, and operational optimisation, then produces comparable outputs (cost, energy, emissions, and practical constraints) to support investment decisions.
What OptiFEM helps you do
- Model industrial heat demand, constraints, and operating profiles.
- Simulate retrofit options (PCM storage, HTHP integration, control strategies).
- Optimise scheduling across time‑varying electricity prices and renewable availability.
- Explore scenarios across technology choices, constraints, and future‑energy assumptions.
- Quantify cost, CO\(_2\), and energy KPIs for alternative scenarios.
- Compare “as‑is” versus “to‑be” designs with traceable assumptions.
- Support decisions with repeatable, auditable model runs and reports.
- Identify flexibility opportunities (load shifting, storage dispatch, tariff response).
INNOV8HEAT at a glance
INNOV8HEAT addresses sustainable industrial heat by integrating phase change materials (PCMs), high‑temperature heat pumps, and advanced decision support. It emphasises rigorous data management (GDPR/FAIR), real‑world prototyping, and scalable deployment strategies.
Practically, this means building validated digital representations of industrial heat systems, linking them to operational data, and using optimisation to decide when to generate heat, when to store it, and when to discharge it—all while meeting process constraints. The approach supports phased deployment: from baseline characterisation, to pilot integration, to scalable roll‑out.
Electrify heat
Convert surplus renewable electricity into useful heat using high‑temperature heat pumps, stabilised by thermal storage where needed.
Store smart
Use PCM‑based storage to shift heat production in time, reduce peak loads, and maintain process temperature stability.
Optimise operations
Apply AI‑supported optimisation and scheduling to align production with tariffs, flexibility opportunities, and site constraints.
What you get out of the platform
- Scenario comparisons with consistent KPIs and assumptions.
- Dispatch schedules for HTHP + storage under price/renewables signals.
- Design guidance for capacity sizing and integration constraints.
- Emissions impact and cost savings estimates over defined horizons.
- Auditability through repeatable model runs and exportable results.
- Roadmaps for pilot → scale deployment with practical milestones.
PCM thermal storage
Simulate charging/discharging and temperature‑specific storage for process stability.
High‑temperature heat pumps
Model HTHP capacity, COP, and integration with storage and demand.
AI optimisation & scheduling
Optimise operation using demand forecasts, renewables, and market signals.
Market interaction
Value stacking, dynamic pricing, and flexibility participation pathways.
Training & dissemination
Materials, enablement, and scaling support for adoption across sectors.
INNOV8HEAT work packages
- WP1: Project Coordination & Data Management (GDPR/FAIR)
- WP2: Electrification and Optimisation of Industrial Heat (HTHP + PCM + AI)
- WP3: Advanced Modelling and Decision Support Systems (edge/IoT/ML)
- WP4: Innovative Business Models and Market Interaction
- WP5: Training and Capacity Building
- WP6: Communication and Dissemination