View presentations, project updates, and case studies from the 2024 Stor4Build Annual Meeting.
September 9, 2024
minute read time
2024 Workshop Summary
In August 2024, Stor4Build brought nearly 80 stakeholders from the thermal energy storage (TES) industry to Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), including researchers, startups, electric utilities, nonprofits, implementers, state energy efficiency offices, and original equipment manufacturers. During the two-day Stor4Build Annual Meeting, participants engaged in vital discussions about the current challenges and opportunities for scaling thermal energy storage solutions in buildings. The event featured panel discussions featuring leading technology experts and industry practitioners, as well as updates on Stor4Build–funded projects, highlighting advancements in the TES field crucial to achieving the consortium’s mission. Note that views expressed by workshop attendees are indicative of DOE/BTO policy.
Key Takeaways
- Urgency and Opportunity for TES in Buildings
TES presents an immediate opportunity to enhance grid stability in the face of increasing load growth. Applications range from large commercial buildings to single-family homes, showcasing its potential for significant energy savings, behind-the meter load shifting and demand reduction, improved resilience, and greater adoption of distributed resilient generation.
- Real-World Deployment
Transitioning TES from research to real-world application is crucial for real world impact. This involves standardizing systems, integrating advanced controls, and exploring innovative uses in building envelopes and HVAC systems. Ongoing innovation and field testing are necessary to enhance TES technology and ensure its cost-effectiveness.
- Challenges with TES Market adoption
Barriers to TES adoption include high initial costs, complex integration with existing systems, a lack of standardized metrics, limited awareness among utilities, and vague financial incentives. Participants expressed that codes, utility partnerships, and financial incentives are essential for overcoming these hurdles, though at least some of that is beyond the scope of Stor4Build.
- Necessities for Successful TES Adoption
Clear incentives, standardization, and supportive policies are essential to accelerate TES adoption. Financial incentives, improved cost-effectiveness, mass production, and education initiatives can address market barriers. Collaborations among industry, government, and research institutions—such as those enabled by Stor4Build—are vital for TES to reach its full potential as a mainstream energy solution.