A consortium called Stor4Build, established in November 2022, is focusing on the development of thermal energy storage (TES) technologies to enable buildings to efficiently run on renewable energy sources. Buildings are a major obstacle to achieving decarbonization goals, as 50% of electricity consumption in US buildings is spent on heating and cooling demands. Stor4Build aims to investigate novel TES materials and systems that can adjust heating or cooling based on demand, reducing peak energy demand and enabling cost-effective electrification of buildings. The use of TES in buildings can make the process of heating and cooling more manageable, less expensive, and more efficient.
TES systems can be installed in buildings, allowing them to act as thermal batteries. Energy, potentially from renewable sources, is stored in tanks filled with materials such as ice, wax, salt, or sand for later use. Stor4Build is researching and developing phase-change materials for TES that have melting and freezing points close to room temperature, allowing for more comfortable indoor spaces that use less electricity for heating and cooling. The consortium is also exploring hybrid designs, artificial intelligence, and machine learning to optimize TES and conversion systems. By advancing TES solutions, Stor4Build aims to accelerate the adoption of thermal energy storage in buildings and contribute to the deployment of renewable energy and building decarbonization.
Stor4Build involves active participation from various stakeholders such as industry, utilities, nonprofit organizations, building owners, academia, government, and research institutions. The consortium’s work is divided into four research areas: materials optimization and manufacturing, modeling and analysis, system optimization and integration, and market, policy, and equity. Stor4Build aims to develop a community-scale demonstration of peak load shifting and reduce power consumption for thermal loads in individual homes. The consortium is funded by the Department of Energy Building Technologies Office and co-led by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
