Meet the scientist: Wen Liu
In this edition of Meet the Scientist we interview Wen Liu. She is a researcher at the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development at Utrecht University, where she focuses her research on sustainable heat transition and seasonal thermal energy storage.
Can you introduce yourself?
My name is Wen Liu. I come from China. I studied Environmental Science at Universities in China and did PhD research in Energy System Analysis in Denmark. I now work at the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development at Utrecht University, where I focus my research on sustainable heat transition and seasonal thermal energy storage.
Why have you chosen this field of science?
I was involved in many Chinese national energy programs on clean power production when I was a student in China. Later, I did my PhD research on analyzing wind power integration into Danish renewable energy systems. Those experiences trained my view of energy research through a systems perspective. In my last ten years of scientific role at the Copernicus Institute, I have actively developed my research lines focused on heat transition and seasonal thermal energy storage. Two main reasons motivate me to formulate my current research focus. One is the complex challenges of sustainable heat. More unsolved research questions exist about sustainable heat supply technologies, required infrastructure, heat demand reduction, and system integration than fast-developed renewable power solutions. Another reason is that the heat transition has a substantial societal impact at the local/regional level. One excellent example is the Dutch natural gas-free heat transition in the built environment.
What exactly are the modelling tools you published?
In the PUSH-IT project, together with PhD candidate David Geerts, postdoc researcher Taylan Akin, and Assistant Professor Alexandros Daniilidis, we developed generic and open-source (Python) tools to simulate and optimize the Levelised Cost of Energy (LCOE) and carbon emission abatement cost (CAC). The two models are:
The thermal storage model can simulate the techno-economic performance (LCOE) of high-temperature heat storage in geothermal reservoirs at any time interval. It is highly performant and scalable to quantify uncertainties comprehensively using probability.
The heating system model includes both subsurface processes and surface systems. It captures the system dynamics of heat supply, storage operational performance, techno-economic parameters, and uncertainty of future heat demand. It simulates existing and future sustainable heating systems with and without high-temperature heat storage in geothermal reservoirs as the current and future reference. The LCOE of future sustainable heating systems with heat storage is optimized, and the CAC is quantified by comparing it with the reference.
The main difference between the two models is the application scope and level of detail. The thermal storage model focuses on the storage and provides techno-economic information for calculating the LCOE. In contrast, the heating system model focuses on the heating system and offers more information on the interaction between the storage and the other components in the heating system.
Why is it necessary to have those tools?
Developing and applying these tools in the PUSH-IT project has two primary purposes. One is to quantitatively assess the potential LCOE reduction caused by developing innovative technologies for reservoir exploitation. Another is to determine quantitative risks in business case developments. Based on the range and probability of technical and economic parameters, the probability distribution of LCOE will be provided to generate in-depth details on the financial performance and facilitate risk management.
What work needs to be done in the future in this field?
The interaction between thermal storage, sustainable heat supply, and heat demand should be simulated and optimized to maximize the technical and economic benefits of having thermal storage in future sustainable heating systems.
In addition to increasing the share of renewable heat and CO2 emission reduction, other potential benefits of thermal storage in heating systems, such as peak shaving, should be investigated.
What do you want to accomplish as a scientist?
As a scientist in academia, I am motivated to advance scientific knowledge, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, mentor the next generation of scholars, and facilitate the societal changes on the sustainable energy transition path.
Do you have any tips for people who want to become scientists like you?
Nice question. Maybe develop the thinking manner of often asking “why” and “so what” to your research design, actions, and results.
PUSH-IT is a project funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101096566.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
