The American University of Beirut (AUB) is leading a transformative initiative funded by the European Union (EU) that is setting the course for sustainable energy across the Mediterranean region. The STORM (Seasonal Thermal Energy Storage in the Mediterranean Region) project has officially launched under the Interreg NEXT MED Programme with the primary goal of integrating cutting-edge seasonal thermal energy storage to dramatically reduce fossil fuel dependence and cut emissions in the region.
As the coordinating partner, AUB is at the forefront of this €2.7 million project (€2.4 million funded by the EU), bringing together a consortium of seven partners from Lebanon, Cyprus, Jordan, Italy, and Spain. STORM will demonstrate how the Mediterranean’s abundant solar resources can be effectively harnessed and stored to power efficient and climate-resilient heating and cooling systems.
Heating and cooling account for over half of the total energy use in buildings across the Mediterranean, relying heavily on expensive and polluting fossil fuels. Recognizing this challenge, the STORM project capitalizes on the region’s solar wealth through seasonal thermal energy storage (STES). This innovative approach involves capturing excess heat from solar energy during the summer months and storing it, often underground or in large insulated tanks, for reliable use during the colder winter. This technology is poised to significantly lower energy bills and reduce the carbon footprint for households, educational institutions, public facilities, and eco-tourism sites.
To ensure real-world applicability, AUB is implementing one of the project’s three full-scale pilots on its Beirut campus. The university will install a borehole thermal energy storage (BTES) system to supply up to 40 percent of the annual space heating needs for the 2,500 m² historic Bliss Hall. This pilot will serve as a high-visibility example of integrating deep, renewable energy solutions into existing urban infrastructure.
The STORM project includes three other strategically chosen sites to test different climatic and geological conditions. The first is in Palermo, Italy: a solar-based BTES system coupled with a thermal–electric hybrid cogeneration system. The second is in Ajloun (forest reserve), Jordan: a tank thermal energy storage (TTES) system combined with solar power and heat pumps for 38 eco-cabins. The third is in Barcelona, Spain (Knowledge Innovation Market Foundation BCN): ice-storage tanks integrated into the Tànger Power Plant, focusing on urban district cooling. These pilot sites will generate crucial technical, environmental, and financial data that will form the basis for wider replication across the Mediterranean.
Beyond the infrastructure, AUB and its partners are committed to creating a lasting legacy through knowledge transfer and policy integration. This includes a digital platform hosting case studies, simulation tools, and technical guidelines; a Mediterranean STES design toolkit to support engineers, renewable energy providers, and developers; a long-term strategy to embed STES into national energy policies in Mediterranean countries; and awareness and capacity-building activities for citizens, students, engineers, and policymakers.
The consortium is led by the American University of Beirut (Lebanon) and includes the Lebanese Center for Energy Conservation (Lebanon), the Royal Scientific Society (Jordan), the American University of Beirut–Mediterraneo (Cyprus), the University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli (Italy), the University of Palermo (Italy), and the Knowledge Innovation Market Foundation BCN (Spain).
Together, AUB and its partners are determined to accelerate the region’s green energy transition, drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and foster healthier, more resilient communities.
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