IEA ES Task 45: Accelerating the uptake of Large Thermal Energy Storages

Project leader University of Innsbruck: Fabian Ochs

Project leader overall project: Dr Wim van Helden, AEE INTEC, Austria

Project staff University of Innsbruck: Fabian Ochs, Alice Tosatto

Project partner:

  • AEE Intec, Austria
  • UIBK Unit of Energy Efficient Building, Austria
  • AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Austria
  • University of Linz Institute for Polymeric Materials and Testing, Austria
  • SOLID Solar Energy Systems GmbH, Austria
  • DTU, Denmark
  • PlanEnergi, Denmark
  • Aalborg CSP, Denmark
  • Solites, Germany
  • NewHeat, France
  • Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden

Funding organisation: FFG, IEA Research Cooperation

Duration: January 2024 to December 2027

Project website: https://iea-es.org/task-45/

Summary

Nowadays, it is widely recognised by district heating companies that a greatly increased use of renewable heat sources can only be achieved if large thermal energy storage systems (LTES) are also integrated into the district heating system. As a result, interest in LTES technologies has increased enormously and the basis for improving and reducing the cost of these technologies has been broadened. Plans for LTES systems have been developed in many European countries such as Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Austria, France and the Balkan countries, but also in China.

Task 39 of the ES TCP has worked on mapping LTES applications, defining existing and planned project references, defining performance indicators, defining methods for characterising and testing materials for LTES, improving the quality, reproducibility and reliability of numerical simulation models for LTES through initial interlaboratory tests and producing information material on the possibilities of LTES for decision-makers and developers. This will create a framework for the further development and use of these LTES technologies. In addition, the natural gas crisis in Europe has triggered new challenges that have led to a sharp increase in demand for solutions to replace natural gas, particularly in district heating systems. Decision makers, owners, system and component suppliers as well as district heating system planners and designers now have an increased need for better and faster tools for design and cost and performance analysis as well as effective legislation and authorisations and future standards. These will enable accelerated, widespread adoption of LTES technologies worldwide, and this is where Task 45 will tie in with Task 39.

Tasks in the project

The sub-objectives of the new task are

  • Improve numerical simulation: there is a clear need for pre-design tools capable of providing early, accurate estimates of LTES system performance and identifying techno-economic benefits at an early design stage.
  • Expansion of the LTES material database and the development of material testing methods: It is important to consider the influence of moisture at higher temperatures (e.g. permeability properties of sealing materials, thermal conductivity of insulation materials) and to create models to calculate service life. A comprehensive material database enables more accurate predictions about the behaviour of an LTES and helps to improve system performance and reliability.
  • Developing a basis for future performance control standards: Establishing uniform performance control standards facilitates interaction and communication between vendors and performers. They enable the verification of the actual performance of LTES systems and can lead to the introduction of performance guarantees.
  • Targeted production of information and training materials for decision-makers, implementers and developers: These materials provide relevant knowledge and practical guidance to promote understanding of LTES and support successful implementation.
  • Improved concepts and technologies: This includes exploring approaches to increase storage temperatures, such as the use of pressurised systems, high temperature aquifer thermal energy storage (HT ATES), rock or sand storage, as well as exploring the use of existing infrastructure such as gas or oil reservoirs, mines, clay extraction sites or gravel pits. This directory contains information on the TRL of the different approaches and their potential applications.

Press & Publications

Tosatto, A., & Ochs, F. (2024). Comparison of detailed large-scale Thermal Energy Storage simulation models. Proceedings of BauSim Conference 2024: 10th Conference of IBPSA-Germany and Austria, 18-25. https://doi.org/10.26868/29761662.2024.3

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