EXPLORE polygeneration is an unique umbrella project and at the same time a stepwise growing demonstration case covering, from a system perspective, both the production and use of energy and all the dynamic relations in between. The polygeneration and fuel flexibility perspective is necessary to have, since in a near future the user can sometimes be a producer and vice versa. Energy storage will be a key component in this, to be able to level out effect peaks related to a highly varying demand.

The modern society will need to drastically change its view towards a more sustainable behaviour in a global environment. It is a today, by most scientists, accepted fact the global warming is enhanced by the increased CO2 in the atmosphere, and that a large part of the drastic increase of CO2 over the last 100 years probably comes from burning of fossil fuels for various energy services used in the modern society.

At the same time it is also clear that many energy transformation processes (be it on the “generation side" towards, or on the “user side" of, the energy services humans considered needed) are highly inefficient in the sense that they mostly concentrate upon one energy service only instead of using the available energy fully to supply different services (like power, heat, cooling, clean water, transportation fuel, pellets, ...) at the same time.

The concept of simultaneous transformation of basic energy sources through polygeneration is the next logical step to take towards a significant higher yield from the basic energy source.

The multidimensional and interdisciplinary research and educational platform “EXPLORE Poygeneration" covers all major climate- and energy-related research in a global perspective. It is thus an excellent platform for all researchers at KTH and partner universities to “gather around".

Among the “mini-platforms" that are studied in the project can be mentioned: Climate and Energy Services; Energy Products and Services; Positive Energy Buildings; The Modern Cities´ Sustainable Energy Services; Sustainable Future Transportation; Efficient & Emission Neutral Polygeneration Energy Transformation Cycles & Processes