SUSTAINABLE ENERGY HARVESTING SYSTEMS BASED ON INNOVATIVE MINE WASTE RECYCLING

The START project proposes a unique technological solution, based on the conversion of mining waste into materials for waste heat recovery, thus contributing to an efficient use of resources while promoting the use of green energy harvesting through thermoelectrics, in line with the strategies outlined in the European Green Deal and in the EU Action Plans on Critical Raw Materials and on Circular Economy.

START project’s primary objective is to build an innovation ecosystem in the EU related to the development of sustainable and economically viable tellurium-free thermoelectric waste heat harvesting systems, with potential applications in heavy industry, maritime industry or as primary power source for off-grid sensors and IoT devices. This will be achieved by producing advanced sulphide p-type TE thermoelements that incorporates discarded waste secondary sulphides (tetrahedrite), present in many European mine wastes, to replace the tellurium-based p-type TE thermoelements. The project is coordinated by LNEG and aggregates 15 organisations, from 10 EU member states and 1 associated country

Project duration: 01/06/2022 – 31/05/2026

Co-funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe Programme.