Common Applications of Thermal Energy Storage
1. Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Plants
- TES is widely used to store heat generated by solar energy during daylight for electricity generation after sunset, improving dispatchability and grid reliability.
- Molten salt two-tank systems are the most common TES method in CSP, allowing storage capacities of several gigawatt-hours globally.
- This application is mature and serves as a benchmark for large-scale TES in power plants.
2. Building Heating and Cooling
- TES enables the storage of excess heat or cold for later use, balancing demand between day and night or across seasons.
- Examples include ice storage systems for cooling, where water is frozen during off-peak hours and melted during peak cooling demand, reducing electricity use for air conditioning.
- Seasonal thermal energy storage (STES) allows storing summer heat for winter heating, as seen in district heating schemes and some community projects like Drake Landing Solar Community in Canada.
3. District Heating Systems
- TES is used for buffer storage and seasonal storage in district heating networks, storing thermal energy to improve operational flexibility and integrate renewable heat sources.
- Hot water tanks and large-scale pit storage are typical TES technologies in this sector, smoothing heat supply and demand over hours or seasons.
4. Industrial Processes
- TES helps capture and reuse waste heat, increasing process efficiency and reducing fossil fuel use.
- High-temperature thermal batteries provide industrial heat (above 1000°C) for processes such as cement or plastics manufacturing.
- TES contributes to decarbonizing industry by storing renewable heat or electricity-derived heat for on-demand process use.
5. Grid Management and Renewable Energy Integration
- TES serves as a form of energy storage to manage renewable energy intermittency by converting excess electricity (e.g., wind or solar) into heat stored for later use.
- This load shifting or peak shaving stabilizes the grid and maximizes renewable penetration.
6. Electric Vehicles and Automotive Thermal Management
- TES is being explored for thermal management in electric vehicles, including waste heat recovery, but this application is still emerging with limited commercial deployment.
Summary Table of TES Applications
| Application Area | Description & Examples | TES Technology Used |
|---|---|---|
| Concentrated Solar Power | Storing solar heat for electricity generation after sunset | Molten salt two-tank, steam accumulators |
| Building Heating/Cooling | Ice storage for cooling, seasonal heat storage for space heating | Ice-based TES, phase change materials |
| District Heating | Buffer and seasonal heat storage in urban heat networks | Hot water tanks, pit storage |
| Industrial Processes | Waste heat recovery, process heat storage for decarbonization | Thermal batteries, high-temp solids |
| Grid Energy Management | Storing excess renewable electricity as heat for later use | Sensible and latent heat TES |
| Electric Vehicles | Waste heat recovery and thermal management (developing) | Emerging thermochemical TES |
Types of Thermal Energy Storage Technologies Used
- Sensible Heat Storage: Uses materials like water, rocks, molten salts that change temperature to store energy; cheapest and most established, but lower energy density.
- Latent Heat Storage: Employs phase change materials (e.g., ice, paraffin wax) to store/release heat during phase changes; higher density but challenges with materials.
- Thermochemical Storage: Uses reversible chemical reactions for very high energy density and long-term storage; promising but with some environmental and cost concerns.
In conclusion, TES is most commonly applied in concentrated solar power plants, building heating and cooling (including district heating), industrial heat processes, and grid energy management to enable renewable energy integration and decarbonization. Emerging uses in electric vehicles are under development. The choice of TES technology depends on the specific temperature requirements, storage duration, and economic considerations of each application.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/what-are-the-most-common-applications-for-thermal-energy-storage/
