Seasonal thermal energy storage

Seasonal thermal energy storage (STES), also known as inter-seasonal thermal energy storage,[1] is the storage of heat or cold for periods of up to several months. The thermal energy can be collected whenever it is available and be used whenever needed, such as in the opposing season. For example, heat from solar collectors or waste heat from air conditioning equipment can be gathered in hot months for space heating use when needed, including during winter months. Waste heat from industrial process can similarly be stored and be used much later[2] or the natural cold of winter air can be stored for summertime air conditioning.[3][4]

STES stores can serve district heating systems, as well as single buildings or complexes. Among seasonal storages used for heating, the design peak annual temperatures generally are in the range of 27 to 80 °C (81 to 180 °F), and the temperature difference occurring in the storage over the course of a year can be several tens of degrees. Some systems use a heat pump to help charge and discharge the storage during part or all of the cycle. For cooling applications, often only circulation pumps are used.

Sorption and thermochemical heat storage are considered the most suitable for seasonal storage due to the theoretical absence of heat loss between charging and discharging.[5] However, studies have shown that actual heat losses currently are usually significant.[6]

Examples for district heating include Drake Landing Solar Community where ground storage provides 97% of yearly consumption without heat pumps,[7] and Danish pond storage with boosting.[8]

  1. ^ Wong, Bill; Snijders, Aart; McClung, Larry (2006). "Recent Inter-seasonal Underground Thermal Energy Storage Applications in Canada". 2006 IEEE EIC Climate Change Conference. EIC Climate Change Technology, 2006 IEEE. pp. 1–7. doi:10.1109/EICCCC.2006.277232. ISBN 1-4244-0218-2. S2CID 8533614.
  2. ^ Andersson, O.; Hägg, M. (2008), "Deliverable 10 - Sweden - Preliminary design of a seasonal heat storage for ITT Flygt, Emmaboda, Sweden" (PDF), Deliverable 10 - Sweden - Preliminary design of a seasonal heat storage for ITT Flygt, Emmaboda, Sweden, IGEIA – Integration of geothermal energy into industrial applications, pp. 38–56 and 72–76, archived from the original (PDF) on 11 April 2020, retrieved 21 April 2013
  3. ^ Paksoy, H.; Snijders, A.; Stiles, L. (2009), "Aquifer Thermal Energy Cold Storage System at Richard Stockton College" (PDF), Aquifer Thermal Energy Cold Storage System at Richard Stockton College, EFFSTOCK 2009 (11th International) - Thermal Energy Storage for Efficiency and Sustainability, Stockholm, archived from the original (PDF) on 12 January 2014, retrieved 22 April 2013{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  4. ^ Gehlin, S.; Nordell, B. (1998), "Thermal Response test-In situ measurements of Thermal Properties in hard rock" (PDF), Thermal Response test-In situ measurements of Thermal Properties in hard rock, Avdelningen för vattenteknik. Luleå, Luleå Tekniska Universitet
  5. ^ N’Tsoukpoe, K. Edem; Liu, Hui; Le Pierrès, Nolwenn; Luo, Lingai (1 December 2009). "A review on long-term sorption solar energy storage". Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 13 (9): 2385–2396. doi:10.1016/j.rser.2009.05.008. ISSN 1364-0321.
  6. ^ N’Tsoukpoe, Kokouvi Edem; Kuznik, Frédéric (1 April 2021). "A reality check on long-term thermochemical heat storage for household applications". Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 139: 110683. Bibcode:2021RSERv.13910683N. doi:10.1016/j.rser.2020.110683. ISSN 1364-0321.
  7. ^ Wong, Bill (28 June 2011), "Drake Landing Solar Community" (PDF), Drake Landing Solar Community, IDEA/CDEA District Energy/CHP 2011 Conference, Toronto, pp. 1–30, archived from the original (PDF) on 10 September 2016, retrieved 21 April 2013
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference ing2015-06-14 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).