Ricardo Chacartegui

University of Seville | US · Energy Engineering

The use of renewable energy sources can make a significant contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the energy sector. However, fluctuating electricity generation from solar or wind power plants leads to a mismatch between energy production and demand as well as potential problems of grid instability. For that reason, large-scale therma...

Integration of energy storage (ES) into an energy system with wind and solar power plants provides a solution to the problem of power balancing resulting from fluctuating power output. One promising approach are Thermal Energy Storage (TES) systems, particularly Power-to-Heat-to-Power (PHP) systems, which have a low environmental impact compared to...

The security of the supply of clean energy resources and the production of renewable fuels for industry are some of the strategies to combat climate change. In this sense, the massive implementation of green fuels that is foreseen forces the industrial park to operate on hydrogen and/or ammonia, methanol and others, with a cost overrun for stakehol...

This paper presents preliminary findings from the EU-funded ECF4CLIM project. It first introduces the initial definition of our European Competence Framework for a Low Carbon Economy and Sustainability Through Education. Then we present a number of practical interventions to promote sustainability competencies that have been co-designed in 13 schoo...

With increasing volatility in natural gas markets and the need for residential heat, research for alternative thermal systems based on green hydrogen-based fuels is necessary. Massive implementation of hydrogen in the current fleet presents a challenge for the decarbonisation of conventional thermal processes. This paper presents the integration of...

This study introduces an innovative solution to address the challenges arising from the volatile natural gas market and the growing integration of renewable energy sources within the industrial sector. The research strives to confront this challenge by including renewable methanol (CH3OH) and converting it into methane (CH4), with an intermediate s...

Distributed microgeneration is an alternative for aggregate energy integration into the electricity grid. Low-temperature heat recovery systems, such as ORCs, are particularly interesting given their compactness and safety for application in the residential sector, operating at moderate pressures and low heat source temperatures. Energy surpluses g...

The decarbonisation of society requires developing new environmentally friendly solutions for heating and cooling. Ultra-low temperature district heating and cooling (ULTDHC) allows operation with energy sources and systems hard to integrate into previous generations of district networks, making this technology more efficient and sustainable. This...

This work presents an extension of the touch‐free flash sintering technique. In the proposed technique, chemical reaction and sintering occur in a single step, without the use of electrodes, in the presence of electric and magnetic fields. We show that a dense, single‐phase strontium hexaferrite magnet can be produced from a mixture of commercial c...

This paper provides a review of negative carbon capture technologies. Based on these technologies, here it is proposed an innovative negative emissions power plant combining the generation and storage of energy from biomass, photovoltaic, and concentrated solar power, capturing and recovering CO2 by producing H2 or CH4 as green energy carriers. The...

iomass heating networks are an efficient and low-emission alternative for rural municipalities without natural gas supply. One of the main challenges for their implementation on a larger scale is to reduce the uncertainty in the profitability evaluation. The linear heat density is the index commonly used to evaluate the potential for heating networ...

The EU's long-term climate strategy and the European Green Deal highlight the pivotal role of renewable energies towards a clean energy system and decarbonisation. Despite technological progress and cost reductions, the stochastic nature and lack of dispatchability of renewable energy sources require fast development of large-scale energy storage t...

Integrating bioenergy and carbon capture and storage (BECCS) presents a great opportunity for power production with negative global CO2 emissions. This work explores a novel synergetic system that integrates membranes, partial biomass oxycombustion and the calcium looping (CaL) process. Polymeric membranes generate oxygen-enriched air (OEA) with an...

Thermal energy storage systems are an emerging option for efficient energy conversion and storage, especially if they can concentrate solar energy. This work studies a flexible CH3OH-to-CH4 conversion system from intermediate conversion to synthesis gas. The design is based on a combination of processes already tested experimentally and applied in...

Partial oxycombustion using Oxygen-Enriched Air (OEA), produced by air-gas separation with polymeric membranes, combined synergistically with CO2 capture technologies, can reduce the overall energy cost of CO2 capture, and it is a potential alternative to conventional CO2 capture technologies. An exhaustive review of polymeric membranes for this ap...

Among the portfolio of energy systems for local power generation, Organic Rankine cycles (ORCs) for residential applications are an opportunity for local cogeneration based on synergies with existing thermal heating and storage systems. They can be highly competitive for isolated installations and the refurbishment of existing solar heating install...

The main objective of the present study is the development of a comprehensive methodology for the estimation of the Carbon Footprint (CF) of research project activities and the identification of the best practices that can be followed by project partners within the project implementation to reduce its carbon footprint. The CF methodology is based o...

The present study aimed to provide an in-depth assessment of the commuting patterns of scholar communities of southwestern European countries and to identify measures to improve their sustainable performance regarding mobility. The adopted methodology characterised the mobility pattern of students as a sustainability indicator and the availability...

Environmental Development Volume 45, March 2023, 100795 Sensitivity analysis of trends in environmental education in schools and its implications in the built environment Author links open overlay panelCarmenDíaz-LópezabÁngelaBarrios-Padurabe https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envdev.2022.100795 Get rights and content Highlights • An integrated and structur...

A selection of Rankine and Brayton power cycles for fusion and fission nuclear power plants (NPPs) has been modeled in a framework that integrates the engineering equation solver (EES) and the PROCESS systems code. The combined production of heat and electricity has been studied, and efficiency improvements have been obtained for all cycles. The pr...

Heating decarbonisation through electrification requires the development of novel heat batteries. They should be suitable for the specific application and match the operation conditions of domestic renewable energy sources. Supercooled liquids, often considered a drawback of phase change materials, are among the most promising technologies supporti...

Heating decarbonisation through electrification is a difficult challenge due to the considerable increase in peak power demand. This research proposes a novel modelling approach that utilises easily accessible national-level data to identify the required heat storage volume to decrease peak power demand and maximises carbon reductions associated wi...

The widespread use of renewable energy requires the support of high-capacity energy storage systems. This work proposes a thermochemical energy storage system for concentrated solar power plants based on the reversible hydration/dehydration process of the calcium hydroxide. It is a single fluidised bed reactor concept with alternating dehydration-h...

The development of novel energy storage technologies is crucial for the massive deployment of large-scale renewable energy systems. This paper presents the conceptual study of an integrated system for the large-scale storage of solar thermal energy in the form of thermochemical energy based on calcium hydroxide. Calcium oxide-based storage media ar...

This work explores the use of open-pore, inert ceramic foams with different pore sizes as particle abatement systems in small biomass combustion systems. Porous foams made of silicon carbide with pore sizes 10 to 60 pores-per-inch were installed in an in-house designed combustion unit operated with wood pellets. Their effects on the temperature dis...

Sector coupling is necessary for efficient renewable integration since almost all renewable energy sources depend on environmental parameter variations. This paper follows a research line that studies the application of ultra-low temperature district heating and cooling systems, with working temperatures between 6-40 °C, to integrate renewable sour...

The Calcium-Looping (CaL) process, based on the multicyclic calcination-carbonation of CaCO3/CaO, is considered a promising Thermochemical Energy Storage (TCES) technology to be integrated into Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) plants. This work proposes a novel CaL integration that operates at low-pressure calcination under pure CO2 and a moderated...

Oxyfuel combustion is a promising alternative to decarbonize the power sector. However, the main barrier to commercial deployment of the technology is the high energy consumption associated with oxygen production (∼200–300 kWh per ton of O2), which penalizes the thermal-to-electric efficiency of 8.5–12% compared to traditional air combustion plants...

Calcium looping is a promising thermochemical energy storage process to be integrated into concentrating solar power plants. This work develops for the first time a comprehensive life cycle assessment of the calcium looping integration in solar plants to assess the potential of the technology from an environmental perspective. Two representative in...

Large-scale thermochemical energy storage (TCES) is gaining relevance as an alternative to current thermal energy storage systems in Concentrated Solar Power plants. Among the different systems, the reversible reaction between CaO and CO2 stands out due to the wide availability and low cost of the raw material: limestone. Direct solar absorption of...

We propose the addition of calcium carbonate produced from flue-gas carbon dioxide to reduce carbon emissions of Portland cement manufacturing from 0.96 kgCO2/kg of Portland cement to 0.33 kgCO2/kg of Portland cement with comparable strengths. We briefly review the impact of calcite addition on properties of cement based on the literature. We prese...

Biomass district heating systems are an optimal economic and environmental solution for generating and distributing thermal energy. One of the main challenges for a broader development of these systems is the complexity of its implementation in the absence of established regulations in the legal, commercial, technical, or economic fields, a situati...

Small solid biomass combustion systems are among the main contributors to the global particulate emissions share, and cheap, efficient abatement systems are not yet available for them. The placement of inert porous material to confine the combustion region is being recently explored as a possible mitigation system for this kind of pollution. Howeve...

The ultra-low temperature district heating and cooling (ULTDHC) systems are among the most interesting solutions for the decarbonisation of heating and cooling sectors. It is a technology where different optimised integrations and operations are still under development. The booster heat pumps (BHPs) or substations associated with this new generatio...

5th Generation District Heating and Cooling systems are promising technologies for using and storing renewable energy generation excess. An annual simulation using data of a location in the south of Spain is carried out to study this context. The novelty of this work is that a common distribution network is used as an energy storage system and inte...

Thermochemical energy storage systems from carbonates, mainly those based on calcium carbonate, have been gaining momentum in the last few years. However, despite the considerable interest in the process, the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) is still low. Therefore, facing the progressive development of the technology at different scales is essenti...

Nuclear fusion is expected to be a clean and almost-unlimited power source in the near future. The first net power demonstration plant (DEMO) is planned to start operation in 2050. The supercritical carbon dioxide (S-CO2) Brayton cycle is an excellent candidate for integration with a fusion power plant, such as DEMO, because of its high efficiency...

Indoor air quality in schools has a direct impact on the performance and wellbeing of students. In 2020, the health emergency required the reconsideration of ventilation conditions in indoor spaces, especially for educational buildings. This paper advances previous investigations to identify affordable, sustainable, and healthy designs for the refu...

The present work proposes integrating a high-temperature thermochemical energy storage cycle to boost the solar contribution in solar combined cycles. The main feature of the plant is the possibility of storing solar energy at a very high temperature and releasing it on demand to drive the combined cycle in the absence of solar radiation. Based on...

Energy storage systems are crucial for the massive deployment of renewable energy at a large scale. This paper presents a conceptual large-scale thermoelectrical energy storage system based on a transcritical CO2 cycle. The concept is developed through the analysis of three high-efficiency systems: renewable energy storage using a thermoelectric en...

This study aims to investigate, in microscale, the pollutant emissions due to road traffic under traffic-congested conditions at street level and the impacts on air quality of traffic emissions reduction scenarios by applying an Integrated Modelling Tool (IMT) for a main road axis in Thessaloniki, Greece. ΙΜΤ links a real-world traffic model, a dyn...

Environmental empowering to control resource consumption and environmental impacts is critical to engage citizens to adopt more sustainable habits. This study demonstrates the potential benefits of innovative approaches based on sustainability indicators towards a low-carbon economy. A methodology to measure and promote sustainability in schools ha...

The use of CO2 as a working fluid in power generation and storage applications has experienced a significant boost in recent years, based on its high-performance characteristics in power generation or heat pumps. This work proposes a novel combined use of transcritical CO2 cycles as an energy storage system and carbon dioxide storage inside geologi...

Valorisation of plastic waste or forest-agroindustrial residues poses an opportunity to reduce landfilling and to obtain value-added products simultaneously. Through thermal partial oxidation, hydrocarbon fuels can be gasified and converted into syngas. Particularly, hybrid porous media reactors allow gasifying low-grade fuels in an efficient eco-f...

The integration of Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) in combined cycles is a subjects of increasing attention. Combined cycles require high temperature at the gas turbine inlet (typically over 1000 °C), which hinders plant operation in the absence of direct solar radiation using currently commercial storage technologies based on molten salts (with a...

In order to be efficient, catalysts require an adequate substrate with tailored porosity, specific surface area and pore size distribution. This work reports on the use of biomorphic silicon carbide, a wood-derived ceramic material, to fabricate a wall-flow filter onto which ceria-based catalytic coatings are synthesised in-situ with two different...

The drive to net zero energy requires high renewable penetration but most renewables are either affordable or dispatchable but not both. Thermochemical energy storage integrated into concentrating solar power plants can enhance dispatchability and solar-to-electricity efficiency. Combining these technologies with lower cost photovoltaic plants expl...

The Calcium-Looping (CaL) process has emerged in the last years as a promising technology to face two key challenges within the future energy scenario: energy storage in renewable energy-based plants and CO2 capture from fossil fuel combustion. Based on the multicycle calcination-carbonation reaction of CaCO3 for both thermochemical energy storage...

The Calcium Looping performance of limestone for thermochemical energy storage has been investigated under novel favorable conditions, which involve calcination at moderate temperatures under CO2 at low pressure (0.01 and 0.1 bar) and carbonation at high temperature under CO2 at atmospheric pressure. Calcining at low CO2 pressures allows to substan...

Forest biomass is the raw material most commonly used to produce quality pellets for domestic households. However, sustainable forest biomass is not available in all regions, but there are other potential raw material sources for biomass heating systems, based on pellets. There are a large number of olive trees in the Mediterranean area, but these...

Indoor air quality plays an important role in children's wellbeing and performance. The primary attention of previous research is focused on the air quality in school environments, but time at school only represent 27% of the daily schedule. This paper analyses a broad spectrum of volatile organic compounds and aldehydes in different indoor microen...

The commercial deployment of calcium looping (CaL) based technologies relies on the availability of non-toxic, widely available and cheap CaCO3 rich materials. Biomineralized CaCO3 from waste amply fulfil the aforementioned requirements. In the present work, we study the performance of eggshell and snail shell from food waste as CaO precursors for...

Solar thermal power technologies require storage systems to mitigate the natural variability of solar irradiation. Packed bed thermal storage systems (PBTES) offer a cost-effective solution using air as heat transfer fluid and rocks as a storage medium. Compared to its alternatives, however, PBTES presents a limited flexibility of operation due to...

The Sustainable Development Goals 2030 Agenda of United Nations raises the need of clean and affordable energy. In the pathway for more efficient and environmentally friendly solutions, new alternative power technologies and energy sources are developed. Among these, the use of syngas fuels for electricity generation can be a viable alternative in...

With a high number of diesel vehicles worldwide, particulate emission control is an urgent issue with a global impact, from the health of citizens to commercial future of this technology in some transport segments. Particulate filters are widely used in automotive engines to comply emissions regulations, but current technologies have room for impro...

In the pursuit of shifting technology towards sustainable, environmentally benign processes, post-combustion carbon capture technology is recognised to be a timely mitigation option. This paper presents the development of a novel sodium carbonate-based post combustion carbon capture process utilising the carbonate mineral trona (trisodium hydrogend...

Soot and particulate emissions from the transport sector are a major concern worldwide, given their harmful effects on public health and the environment. On-road vehicles are the main contributing source to this kind of pollution. They are strictly regulated in many countries, with limitations on the number and concentration of released particles,...

Energy storage is key to decarbonising the energy sector by reducing intermittency and increasing the integration of renewable energy. Thermochemical energy storage (TCES) integrated with concentrated solar and photovoltaic power plants, has the potential to provide dispatchable and competitive energy. Here we develop a multi-objective optimisation...

To meet the increasingly strict emission limits imposed by regulations, internal combustion engines for transport applications require the urgent development of novel emission abatement systems. The introduction of biodiesel or other biofuels in the engine operation is considered to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, these alternative fuels...

La integración de sistemas termoquímicos de energía en plantas CSP está ganando interés en los últimos años. De entre los posibles sistemas termoquímicos, el proceso de Calcium-looping (CaL), basado en la calcinación/carbonatación multicíclica de CaCO3, está considerado como uno de los más prometedores. Tras la aparente sencillez del proceso se enc...

The promising Calcium-Looping technology can be integrated for thermochemical energy storage (TCES) in Concentrating Solar Power plants, having the potential to compete with the molten salt thermal storage system, the most cost-effective solution nowadays. In the Calcium-Looping process, stored solar energy by the endothermic calcination of limesto...

Solar photovoltaics (PV) plants are today a competitive alternative to power plants based on fossil fuels. Cost reduction in PV modules, scalability (from kW to MW) and ease of installation of PV plants are enabling a rapid expansion of the technology throughout the world. Nevertheless, PV dispatchability still remains as the major challenge to be...