The Budget-Friendly Route: Thermal Energy Storage Solutions

Thermal energy storage (TES) systems capture and retain heat or cold for later use, offering a cost-efficient alternative particularly suited for industrial processes and district heating/cooling networks. Costs for TES vary depending on the technology type – sensible heat storage, latent heat (phase change materials), or thermochemical storage. Generally, TES systems can be installed at a cost of 20to100 per kWh of thermal storage capacity. The lower end of this spectrum is often associated with large-volume sensible heat storage using water or rock beds, while more sophisticated technologies like phase change materials may incur higher costs due to material expenses and specialized design requirements, TES's ability to leverage existing infrastructure and provide dispatchable energy makes it a budget-friendly solution for many applications.