K. Gluesenkamp
Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
United States
Keywords: thermal energy storage
Summary:
A decarbonized electric grid will require large amounts of storage. The quantity of storage needed will depend on electricity generation variability, and consumption variability. Today, the biggest driver of consumption variability is the heating and cooling of buildings, which will grow with electrification of heating. Fortunately, this electricity consumption variability can be evened out using inexpensive storage of thermal energy at temperatures near room temperature, as will be described in this talk. This talk will present recent technology innovations that can result in cost-effective ways to integrate thermal storage with heating and cooling equipment in buildings. In addition, this talk will highlight gaps in market drivers needed to incentivize widespread adoption of thermal storage. In summary, the talk presents the argument that the lowest cost path to a decarbonized grid is to utilize thermal storage for thermal loads, then use additional electrical storage as needed. A decarbonized electric grid will require large amounts of storage. The quantity of storage needed will depend on electricity generation variability, and consumption variability. Today, the biggest driver of consumption variability is the heating and cooling of buildings, which will grow with electrification of heating. Fortunately, this electricity consumption variability can be evened out using inexpensive storage of thermal energy at temperatures near room temperature, as will be described in this talk. This talk will present recent technology innovations that can result in cost-effective ways to integrate thermal storage with heating and cooling equipment in buildings. In addition, this talk will highlight gaps in market drivers needed to incentivize widespread adoption of thermal storage. In summary, the talk presents the argument that the lowest cost path to a decarbonized grid is to utilize thermal storage for thermal loads, then use additional electrical storage as needed. A decarbonized electric grid will require large amounts of storage. The quantity of storage needed will depend on electricity generation variability, and consumption variability. Today, the biggest driver of consumption variability is the heating and cooling of buildings, which will grow with electrification of heating. Fortunately, this electricity consumption variability can be evened out using inexpensive storage of thermal energy at temperatures near room temperature, as will be described in this talk. This talk will present recent technology innovations that can result in cost-effective ways to integrate thermal storage with heating and cooling equipment in buildings. In addition, this talk will highlight gaps in market drivers needed to incentivize widespread adoption of thermal storage. In summary, the talk presents the argument that the lowest cost path to a decarbonized grid is to utilize thermal storage for thermal loads, then use additional electrical storage as needed.