Thermal Energy Storage Technologies Subprogram Area

In direct support of the E3 Initiative, GEB Initiative and Energy Storage Grand Challenge (ESGC), the Building Technologies Office (BTO) is focused on thermal storage research, development, demonstration, and deployment (RDD&D) to accelerate the commercialization and utilization of next-generation energy storage technologies for building applications. In the United States, buildings consume approximately 39% of all primary energy and 74% of all electricity. Thermal end uses (e.g., space conditioning, water heating, refrigeration) represent approximately 50% of building energy demand and is projected to increase in the years ahead. Thermal energy storage (TES) is a critical enabler for the large-scale deployment of renewable energy and transition to a decarbonized building stock and energy system by 2050.

Advances in thermal energy storage would lead to increased energy savings, higher performing and more affordable heat pumps, flexibility for shedding and shifting building loads, and improved thermal comfort of occupants. Improvements in the temporal and spatial control of heat flows can further optimize the utilization of storage capacity and reduce overall system costs.

The objective of the TES subprogram is to enable shifting of 50% of thermal loads over four hours with a three-year installed cost payback. The system targets for the TES subprogram:

  • <$15/kWh thermal
  • >80 kWh/m3 energy density
  • >10,000 cycles
  • >200% charge/discharge rate over SOA

Technology Manager

Sven Mumme
Supervisor and Technology Manager, Opaque Envelope and Thermal Energy Storage