The Chalmers researcher Kasper Moth-Poulsen's unique solar energy system, MOST, has been granted just over 4.3 M€ in funding from the prestigious EU programme, Future Emerging Technologies (FET) within the Horizon 2020 framework. "This project would not have been possible without IMCG's professional help. IMCG was involved from the start and helped me to identify funding options, how to find good partners, how to structure the project and how to present all this in the proposal," Kasper says.
Since the Chalmers researcher's solar energy system, MOST, became world famous after coming to the attention of, among others, CNN, BBC and Bloomberg, investors have been queuing up. The technology still needs developing from its early phase in the research lab. Dedicated research money was previously lacking, until now.
MOST will now be a FET Proactive project within the framework for Horizon 2020, with a budget of just over 4.3 M€. FET stands for Future Emerging Technologies and, in the Proactive segment, the EU is gathering Europe's top leading researchers in multiple fields of research to develop technologies that will make Europe the leader in sustainable development in the decades to come. "Together with researchers from leading European research institutes, universities and companies, this project gives us a unique opportunity to continue developing in a way that would otherwise have been impossible," Kasper Moth-Poulsen says.
IMCG behind the proposal
Chalmers turned to IMCG before starting work on the proposal to create a winning design as well as for guidance during the writing process. IMCG has a solid track record with many winning project proposals. "We always take a comprehensive view when we take on this type of work. There is very tough competition for this type of funding but, with the methodology that we have developed during the last ten years, nothing is left to chance," says Johan Emanuel, funding expert at IMCG.
Deeper relationship
IMCG was also recently entrusted by Chalmers for services closely associated with research, the design of research proposals, project management and communication are examples for this type of service. "Taking into account the expertise and clear goals that Chalmers and their focus areas' have, I think we will be able to help fund many more successful concepts together. This feels very good, because it is more important than ever for sustainable energy solutions, for example, to reach the end users as quickly as possible," Johan Emanuel says.
Liquid solar energy
MOST is based on a molecule developed by Kasper Moth-Poulsen and his research group over many years. The molecule has the ability to store solar energy in a liquid and hold it for up to 18 years, ready to be transformed into heat when required. The liquid can then be reused, without any emissions whatsoever. The technology resembles standard solar collectors that heat water. The difference is that, instead of heat, energy is stored in chemical form, and this can be transformed into heat when it is needed, for example during the winter.
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