Figure 2: The main stages and main stakeholders of LTES projects identified in Task 39
LTES are crucial for the energy transition Heating and cooling constitute nearly half of the world’s energy consumption, underscoring the critical role of thermal energy storage in aligning renewable energy production with the energy demand. Results from IEA-ES Task 39 have unveiled essential insights: Affordability and Efficiency: Large-scale thermal energy storage (LTES) is cost-effective compared to electrical storage solutions, with specific investment costs plummeting from 4 to less than 1€/kWh capacity. In comparison, large-scale pumped hydro storages run between 100 and 200 €/kWh capacity. Moreover, specific heat losses diminish as storage volume increases, meaning that efficiency increases.
• Online and physical leaflets, serving as an introduction to LTES and providing use cases
• Synthetic reports about how to carry an LTES project from idea to implementation, fostering informed decision- making and facilitating project implementation
• Reports about:
· LTES project development stages · The development of a materials and components database · A modeling tools comparison methodology specifically developed for LTES
• List of project references for the main types of LTES technologies
Long-term Storage Capability: LTES systems excel in storing heat and cold over extended periods with minimal losses.
• A database of materials and components
Utilization of Low-tech Solutions: LTES technologies leverage readily available and easy-to-produce materials, ensuring accessibility. Insights from IEA-ES Task 35 (another task from the Energy Storage branch of the International Energy Agency) emphasize the indispensable role of LTES within District Heating systems for optimizing energy system costs and enhancing energy efficiency. One study’s results show that doubling the thermal storage capacity for a reference scenario in Germany would lower primary energy use while reducing total energy production costs. Advancements in Thermal Energy Storage Technologies The task’s deliverables are directed to diverse stakeholders, including policymakers, researchers & engineers, and project developers. Deliverables include:
• A policy workshop (recording and presentations are available online)
All of these deliverables are available on the website of IEA-ES Task 39: https://iea-es.org/task-39/deliverables/.
IEA-ES Task 39, which ended with a policy workshop in December 2023, focused on four primary technologies capable of annually storing over 1 GWh of thermal energy: Tank, Pit, Borehole, and Aquifer Thermal Energy Storages. The task aimed to provide reference materials to accelerate LTES implementation in District Heating (DH) and industrial settings, drawing on expertise in energy system simulations, storage materials, and construction. The systems studied in Task 39 have been defined as large sensible thermal energy storages designed to store a minimum of 1 GWh/year at atmospheric pressure. The stored
6
HOTCOOL no.6 2024
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker