The Energy Conversion and Storage Laboratory, abbreviated to LabX, is both a group and an infrastructure for developing, simulating, assembling and testing prototypes, based not only on its own ideas but also on external proposals, with the aim of demonstrating new technologies for energy conversion and storage.

The typical methodology for developing a prototype begins with a theoretical analysis of the initial idea, including all the characteristics of interest, the definition of a “minimal prototype” that includes only the essential characteristics, and an assessment of the prototype’s feasibility. This is followed by the implementation of a numerical model in commercial process engineering software or in a code specifically written in MATLAB or Python. The next steps involve the design of the prototype, the procurement of materials and the construction of the prototype following the so-called agile approach. It then concludes with experimental testing in the laboratory to demonstrate the initial idea.

The prototypes include hydrogen technologies, such as:

• electrolysers, storage units and end-use units;
• thermal storage systems, such as Carnot batteries;
• cogeneration and trigeneration systems;
• and, in general, heat pumps, absorption chillers and boilers.