The primary objective of thermal energy storage (TES) research is to achieve high efficiency and sustainability across all temperature ranges. TES aims to maximize renewable energy integration for environmental benefits while relieving grid stress and mitigating overgeneration issues through a diverse range of technologies.
To achieve this, research focuses on four key pillars:
• High Energy Density: Developing more compact systems to store identical amounts of heat.
• Stability and Durability: Creating resilient, cyclable materials that ensure long-term operational reliability.
• Tailored Charging/Discharging Rates: Ensuring rapid adaptation to user demand with systems capable of absorbing both thermal and electrical energy.
• Cost-Effectiveness & Low Environmental Impact: Delivering economically viable and eco-friendly solutions.
As for Medium-Temperature Applications the research is focused at utilizing commercial zeolites for residential use, and synthetic alternatives engineered to adapt adsorption properties to specific operating conditions; synthesizing and testing cementitious structures capable of absorbing heat via thermal fluids or electrical induction; verifying the stability of cascaded sensible and latent TES modules composed of cementitious materials and sodium/potassium nitrates