Solar-Boosted Thermal Insulation
Finn Erik Solvang, Ophiolite AS
What’s the challenge?
Imagine trying to store hot water in a leaky thermos. That’s what it’s like to store low-temperature heat (around 35–65 °C) in large containers — common in data centers, greenhouses, or buildings. The heat slowly escapes, especially through radiation and conduction, making energy storage inefficient.
This is a real problem for Europe’s clean energy transition. If we can’t store waste heat effectively, we miss out on using free energy that would otherwise go to waste.
What’s our solution?
At Ophiolite, we’ve been working on a new kind of multilayer insulation that protects thermal energy storage units from heat loss. Think of it as a “super-blanket” that does three jobs at once:
- Reflects heat back into the system.
- Blocks infrared radiation that normally escapes.
- Captures solar energy from outside and adds it to the system.
It’s like giving your thermos a mirror, a solar panel, and an invisible thermal shield — all in one.
How will we do it?
We are designing a smart multilayer system using materials that are recycled, safe, or circular:
- An inner composite layer with a shiny surface and millions of small particles reflects internal heat.
- A middle insulation layer uses low-conductivity microspheres to limit heat loss.
- A solar-absorbing outer layer combining upcycled mineral powders and lightweight glass-based fillers.
We also use advanced heat modeling to test how much heat is lost, how much is gained from the sun, and how each material is expected to perform under real-world conditions, from Greece to Iceland.
Why does it matter?
This research could help lower the energy bill for buildings and data centers by keeping stored heat warm for longer — especially useful in cold climates or during the night.
It also proves that we can make high-performance insulation using upcycled waste materials — from the renewable energy industry — which supports the EU’s circular economy goals.
What’s next?
We’re now going to test these materials in outdoor conditions: wind, rain, sun, and snow. We want to make sure they last for years — and keep working no matter what the weather.
Next steps include:
- Testing heat performance at scale.
- Measuring real-world durability (UV, frost, moisture).
- Optimizing the production method for larger installations.
- Preparing for pilot installation of full-sized materials.
Want to know more?
This work is part of the MODERATOR project, supported by the EU Horizon programme. For more on our work, visit:
www.moderatorproject.eu