GSS EU Science Funding Gateway

The scope covers the whole spectrum of application of the thermal energy storage systems, ranging from short run to longer run, as well as from the smaller to bigger sizes:

• Thermal end-uses (space heating, hot tap water, cooling) represent a major share of the European electricity demand with consumption often at peak times. Integration into the building heating system and in the smart electricity grid is a key development aspect, next to the storage materials and technologies. Such storage devices reduces the demand for electricity from the grid at peak times during the day, allowing off peak electricity to be used in the building for satisfying cooling needs during summer and/or heating demand, for space heating and hot tap water at later times. The typical charging power is in the order of 3 kW, for periods of up to three hours. The TES system is conceived modularly. The high volumetric energy density is a basic requirement given its utilization.
• For buildings not connected to district heating and cooling network, a much more compact TES system is needed to optimize and to increase the integration of varying RES . Such systems need much less volume than state-of-the-art technologies, realized with materials that have extremely low heat losses and enable the storage of heat and cold for domestic applications for periods typically up to 4 weeks. Cost reduction is a very important target, as the present solutions are too expensive. The ideal thermochemical TES process should have high reaction heat; Good reversibility; Fast charging and discharging rates; Stable reaction products; Non-toxic, non-corrosive, non-flammable and non-explosive reactants and products; Large-scale availabilities and abundance, affordable price.

The achievable storage density (kWh/m3) depends on the technological approach (sensible heat, PCM and TCM) and decreases drastically moving from the component to the system level.