About Danish Center for Energy Storage

Danish Center for Energy Storage, DaCES, is a partnership that covers the entire value chain from research and innovation to industry and export in the field of energy storage and conversion.

The ambition of DaCES is to strengthen cooperation, sharing of knowledge and establishment of new partnerships between companies and universities. Through these collaborations, DaCES seeks to ensure a long-term, focused and coordinated effort between all relevant players in areas of technology such as thermal energy storage, battery technology, system integration and Power-to-X.

In the future wind and solar energy should account for as much as possible of our energy supply. This creates new challenges in terms of securing accessible energy when demanded. Energy is only generated whenever the wind blows or the sun shines. As a result of these energy fluctuations it will be essential to balance supply and demand instantaneously and in a flexible way. It will also be important to combine the different energy sectors, such as electricity, gas, and district heating in order to store excess energy as e.g. heating or green fuels.

Denmark has a strong tradition for a triple helix cooperation between universities, industries and the government. We are pioneers in renewable energy and we have a high degree of sector coupling and digitization. This provides unique possibilities for research, innovation and export of novel solutions for energy storage and at the same time helps us to reach our national climate goal. However, this requires political focus and even more cooperation between knowledge-based institutions and businesses.

Why Energy Storage?

A reliable energy system based on renewable sources without energy storage would require an excess capacity beyond realism. It would most certainly result in down-regulation of the capacity most of the time. As of today down-regulation is expensive since owners of wind turbines and solar cells are compensated for periods of stalling production, as well as the fact that the power grid of Denmark is not dimensioned to such an expansion. And even if it could be done, we would still have times where renewable energy couldn’t fulfill the energy demand and then supplementation of fossil fuels would be necessary.

In other words, energy storage is the one and only way to reach a 100% renewable energy system.

Batteries

Batteries, in particular lithium ion batteries, are among the most well-known and economically feasible technologies for energy storage. As of today it is the only realistic solution for batteries in electric cars, mobile phones and similar mobile devices. But there is a downside. The batteries are based on lithium, a chemical element of limited deposits. However, the lithium battery beats electric cars when it comes to eco efficiency, and new technologies that are less resource demanding are already being examined.

Thermal Energy storage

Thermal energy storage comes from storing energy from renewable energies in the form of heat, which in then can be used in district heating systems or be re-converted to electricity through a turbine. The heat can be stored in rocks, water, molten salts, or other phase-changing materials. The technology can be used in large water and stone basins that can be used for balancing electric and district heating systems as well as helping to lower the need for peak load capacity. However, the technology can also be used on smaller scale by businesses, where excess heat from production can be utilised. As of right now ongoing research in the usage of thermal storage at household level is being performed, where small-scale molten salt based storages can be combined with heat pumps.

Power-to-X

Power to X implies converting one kind of energy (mainly electricity from a renewable source) to another form. As of today, most of the research revolves around storage in the form of hydrogen or ammonia. These fuels can be used in e.g. in air transport and shipping, or in those parts of heavy industry that cannot be electrified. The fuels can be re-converted to electricity, which makes the technology very suitable for balancing the electricity net, when electricity production is higher than demand, hence the surplus energy can be stored. The downside is that the conversion loss at present time amounts to as much as 70%.

The technology is promising, both in terms of balancing the electricity net of the future and when it comes to overcoming the challenges presented by emissions from heavy industry and transport. However, it will require extensive investments in research as well as innovation.

System Integration

System integration is the art of connecting various energy systems and consumers with eachother. The term covers a physical element, meaning connecting electricity, gas, district heating systems and integration of PtX plants, as well as a digital element, that performs intelligent regulation of the energy system as a whole. This needs to be designed in a way that also includes the transport sector, the building stock, and flexible interaction with industry businesses.

If Denmark now and in the future is to possess competences for the development, production and implementation of future energy storage and conversion, it is necessary that our education system meets these needs. That is why the working group has been the driving force behind a flexible master in energy storage, which four Danish universities now jointly offer to experienced employees and self-employed people with a technical or scientific background who want to sharpen or expand their skills.

Become a member

We invite you and your business to join us in DaCES in developing the area of energy storage. It gives you access to exclusive webinars and events hosted by the center among other things. The only requirement is that you are registered in the Danish CVR system and that you work directly or indirectly with energy storage.

Additional information about membership can be found here

The world needs a strongly accelerated green transition. Our research and educational institutions deliver new knowledge and skilled candidates, and our research-active companies deliver completely new technologies.
But if Denmark really shall deliver to the green transition within energy storage and conversion, in times characterized by extreme pace and changeability, we must stand together and walk together. DaCES ensures the necessary cohesion that makes it happen.

Lars Ottosen, Head of Department and Professor, AU Biological and Chemical Engineering

Energystorage will become central in our future sustainable energy system as the flexible piece of technology that links production and consumption in an efficient way. Therefore it is absolutely crucial to establish a collaboration platform that brings forth all players from the chain of value, from groundbreaking research to implementation and commercialization.

Lasse Rosendahl
Instituteleader and professor, AAU Energy

If Denmark shall succeed in the development and implementation of new energy technologies such as energy storage and conversion, a broad knowledge of political and legal frameworks, economic models, the role of civil society as well as new forms of organization and collaboration across sectors and disciplines is necessary.

Simon Westergaard Lex, Associate Professor, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Copenhagen

Energy storage is one of the key points in succeeding with the green transition. In ATV our ambition is that energy storage is to become one of the areas of technology, where Denmark is leading in the world. Danish corporations shall gain a position of strength, that builds on a close interaction between research and corporations – with an ambition of contributing to a sustainable planet as well as ensuring jobs, export and earnings in Denmark.

Lia Leffland
Academy manager, ATV

Green Methanol in fuel cells can become a significant contributor in the transitioning of heavy transport, where we with the right support, research and development expect to outmatch fossil fuels in the long term. In Danish Center for Energy Storage we ensure the broadest possible collaboration across the entire chain of value in Denmark for the benefit of Danish development of technology and export.

Hans Aage Hjuler
Lab Manager, Copenhagen Atomics

Denmark faces major challenges if we are to succeed in the green transition and meet the climate goals for 2030 and 2050. This requires a close and targeted interaction between all relevant actors. DaCES is a unique platform within energy storage and conversion where Danish universities and companies work closely together to develop disruptive technologies and training courses, among other things.

Jens Ejbye Schmidt
Head of Department, Professor, SDU Department of Green Technology

If Denmark is to interfere in the global competition seriously and take the leading role within energy storage and conversion, then it is crucial that the entire chain of value is to be considered and implemented in a close collaboration and dialog between all stakeholders.

Søren Linderoth
Institutdirektør og professor, DTU Energy

The lack of simultaneity in electricity production from solar and wind and electricity consumption will in the future result in a great need for energy storage and conversion. Danish manufacturers of energy equipment have an international leading position – and here the interaction between companies and knowledge institutions is absolutely crucial. Danish Technological Institute is happy to be a member of DaCES, which contributes to maintaining and expanding our Danish position.

David Tveit, Executive Vice President, Energy and Climate, Danish Technological Institute

Now that renewable energy has become a significant part of our society, it is crucial to solve the next challenge, which is energy storage due to its intermittent nature. At Topsoe, our focus is on chemical storage and battery storage of energy, and we develop green technologies for chemicals and fuels. For these technologies to become a reality, it is crucial that we work closely with other partners in the value chain and that there is an appropriate policy framework to kick-start their implementation.

Thoa Nguyen
R&D Senior Director, Clean Fuels Technology | Global Research and Development, Topsoe

For Vestas, the integration of energy storage and energy conversion is of crucial importance, and for the green transition as a whole. With Denmark’s ambition to be a leader in the global sustainability agenda, we need a center that creates awareness, drives collaboration and the sharing of knowledge across industry and knowledge institutions. This requires a significant and targeted effort.

Anders Hjarnø Jørgensen
Vice President, Vestas

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Danish Center for Energy Storage