IEA ECES Annex 39 Large Thermal Energy Storages for District Heating

The project/Annex aims at determining the aspects that are important in planning, design, decision making and realizing very large thermal energy storages for integration into district heating systems and for industrial processes, given the boundary conditions for different locations and different system configurations. Work is done as international cooperation.

This application covers Danish participation in IEA ECES Annex 39:” Large Thermal Energy Storages for District Heating”.

The topic of the Annex is large thermal energy storages for integration into district heating systems and industrial processes. It is recognized that there will be a large demand for large thermal energy storages in the future. They are one of the key stones to obtain the flexibility that is necessary to increase the utilization of excess heat and renewable energy in the district heating sector. Thermal storage is a well-known technology, but there are still challenges to solve to enable the integration of very large, cost-efficient, and well-functioning storages around the world.

In the Annex companies and universities from Europe and North America will collaborate to accelerate right implementation of large thermal energy storages for district heating and industry. This is performed by involving international experts of energy systems simulations, storage materials and storage constructions.

Together, the experts will develop on the-state-of-art by creating new, verified simulation models, exchanging experiences and set up common standards on choice of materials. The Annex will develop descriptions and arrange workshops for authorities and utilities to broaden the general knowledge on the technologies. Including recommendations on boundary conditions, potentials and key parameters, and how to develop a project from idea to realization.