The objectives of Plexus RC2 are to provide an initial knowledge base for the design and construction of infrastructure-based energy storage and recovery technologies by developing an understanding of the thermal boundary conditions and examining the impact of such technologies on existing infrastructure systems. RC2 will:

1. Gather & analyse thermal and mechanical data at key boundaries (tunnel wall/air, pipe/air, pipe/water, pipe/tunnel/soil) for model characterisation and validation of soil thermo-hydro-mechanical interactions.

2. Investigate impacts of temperature change due to heat recovery & exchange on primary infrastructure function, e.g. water and wastewater treatment processes and potential structural impacts.

3. Use ICIF’s Learning Journey Model to map learning & action journey towards practical implementation.

4. Work collaboratively to provide a holistic initial assessment of the potential for heat recovery and storage in the UK’s water and transport infrastructure networks.

Plexus (Priming Laboratory EXperiments on infrastructure and Urban Systems) is funded through UKCRIC under EPSRC grant number EP/R013535/1.