Specific program: Innovation

Grant Agreement no:  2025-04

Project objective: The aim of the project is to develop advanced materials for thermal energy storage by encapsulating phase-change materials (PCMs) – derived from biological waste such as fly wax, hemp oil and beef tallow – within nano- and micrometre-scale polymer fibres produced by coaxial electrospinning, using recycled plastic from cattle ear tags as the encapsulating material.

Research team:

• Tamara Calvo Correas(Principal Investigator)
• Cristina Peña Rodríguez
• M. Aranzazu Eceiza Mendiguren

Partner entities:

• Universidad Pública de Navarra – UPNA (Project Leader)
• Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea (EHU)
• Université de Pau et des Pays de L’Adour (UPPA)
• Instituto Vasco de Investigación y Desarrollo Agrario - NEIKER

Total budget: 130.000 € (UPV/EHU: 40.000 €)

Funding amount:  64.116 € (UPV/EHU: 19.728 €)

Start date:  16/12/2024

End date: 16/06/2026 (extension end date 12/12/2026)

Project duration in months: 18 (prorrogado 6 meses más)

Project Summary:

Emissions resulting from the use of fossil fuels and the increase of waste have serious environmental consequences. Therefore, the use of renewable energy, efficient energy management and the use of waste as secondary raw materials can be alternatives to reduce dependence on these fuels. One strategy for managing energy consumption and waste recovery is to use thermal energy storage systems based on sustainable materials and processes. Among these systems, phase-change materials (PCMs) offer exceptional properties. PCMs can store or release large amounts of energy while maintaining a constant temperature.

In this context, the BIOHEAT project aims to develop materials for thermal energy storage by encapsulating, via coaxial electrospinning, PCMs derived from biomass waste – such as fly larvae wax, beef tallow and hemp oil – within polymer fibres obtained from recycled plastic from livestock ear tags. This strategy will enable the joint recovery of biological and plastic waste to produce advanced materials in line with the principles of the circular economy.

More information about the program:

Eurorégion Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Euskadi, Navarre (euroregion-naen.eu)