Enhancing Efficiency and Feasibility of Large-Scale Thermal Energy Storage In District Heating

A key lever to overcome the challenges in the buildings sector related to today’s extensive utilization of fossil fuels is the introduction of renewables-based district energy systems. Herein, large-scale seasonal thermal energy storage (STES) systems found its place favorably in these systems. Yet, STES systems require a thorough planning to avoid the high investment cost. Consequently, numerical models gain importance as an alternative to real-life experiments. This work investigates the role of insulation distribution within storage envelope on performance and capital cost. It further conducts a techno-economic assessment of large-scale, underground, seasonal thermal energy storage to reveal the role of insulation.