Thermal energy storage (TES) plays a vital role in managing the intermittency of solar energy by storing heat from solar thermal systems for later use. Here’s how TES helps mitigate this challenge:
How TES Addresses Intermittency
- Storing Excess Heat: During peak sunlight hours, solar thermal systems capture excess heat, which is then stored in mediums like molten salt or phase-change materials. This stored heat can be used to generate electricity or provide heating when solar radiation is low.
- Decoupling Energy Generation from Consumption: TES allows the heat generated during sunny periods to be used at night or on cloudy days, thus ensuring a continuous supply of energy despite the variability in solar radiation.
- Enhancing Grid Stability: By using stored thermal energy to generate electricity on demand, TES helps stabilize the grid by balancing supply and demand, reducing the need for backup fossil fuel-based power plants.
- Cost-Effectiveness: TES can leverage low-cost renewable electricity (e.g., from wind) to produce and store heat, making it a cost-effective grid storage solution that supports the decarbonization of industrial and building heating processes.
Types of TES Used in Solar Energy Management
- Molten Salt Systems: Common in concentrated solar power (CSP) plants, molten salt stores heat efficiently and can be used to generate electricity when needed.
- Phase-Change Materials: These materials can absorb and release thermal energy as they change state, offering another effective storage option for solar thermal systems.
- Subsurface Storage: This method involves storing heat in underground reservoirs, such as depleted oil and gas fields, providing large-scale and long-term storage solutions.
Overall, thermal energy storage technologies help manage solar energy intermittency by providing a reliable and scalable means to store and utilize solar thermal energy when it is most needed.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/how-does-thermal-energy-storage-help-in-managing-the-intermittency-of-solar-energy/
