Innovative Thermal Storage Solutions for Optimized Energy Systems

The tanks enhance energy system flexibility and reliability and contribute to the transition to a resilient energy future.

FREMONT, CA: Thermal storage tanks are essential to global energy systems, addressing the imbalance between energy supply and demand. They store surplus thermal energy at low demand or times of high renewable energy generation, which would otherwise go to waste and not be used efficiently to tackle the issue of intermittency. They can be primarily used in conjunction with concentrated solar power plants.

Solar radiation is intermittent, varying throughout the day, and affected by weather conditions. Thermal storage tanks enable CSP plants to store excess heat generated during high solar irradiance periods and utilize it later to generate electricity during periods of low or no sunlight, providing a more reliable and dispatchable renewable energy source. Thermal storage tanks can enhance the efficiency of conventional power plants by enabling them to operate more flexibly. Another promising application of thermal storage tanks is the electrification of heating and cooling systems. 

Thermal storage tanks can be integrated into district heating and cooling systems, where they store excess heat or cold generated by combined heat and power (CHP) plants, industrial processes, or waste heat recovery systems. During periods of low demand, such as at night or in mild weather, excess thermal energy can be stored in these tanks and later used to meet peak demand or provide heating or cooling when the primary energy source is unavailable or insufficient. These plants can operate at their optimal efficiency levels for longer durations, reducing fuel consumption and emissions. 

Thermal storage tanks offer a versatile and efficient solution to the energy sector's challenges, including integrating renewable energy sources, electrifying heating and cooling systems, and optimizing conventional power plants. In conventional power plants, such as those fueled by natural gas or coal, ramping up and down to match fluctuating demand can be inefficient and costly. As countries strive to decarbonize their energy sectors, there is increasing interest in electrifying heating and cooling processes currently reliant on fossil fuels. The intermittency of renewable electricity sources poses a challenge for reliably meeting heating and cooling demand. 

Thermal storage tanks can store excess electricity and use it to provide heating or cooling when needed, increasing the efficiency and reliability of electrified heating and cooling systems. In addition to improving energy system efficiency and reliability, thermal storage tanks can provide grid services such as peak shaving, load leveling, and frequency regulation. By strategically discharging stored thermal energy during periods of peak demand or grid instability, these tanks can alleviate stress on the grid and help integrate higher levels of renewable energy.