Thermal energy storage is key for integrating renewable heat sources into an energy system --from domestic applications to district heating and from industrial applications to the power sector. The flexibility storage provides is necessary for the coupling of energy sectors. When higher temperatures, volume restrictions or very long storage periods come into play, new compact thermal storage technologies are needed, but so is more work on their development for the different energy sectors. It is this need that was the motivation for SHC Task 58/ECES Annex 33: Material and Component Development for Thermal Energy Storage – to further improve the storage materials and components based on a better knowledge of the underlying physics and chemistry.

The IEA SHC Programme concluded its joint project with the IEA Energy Conservation through Energy Storage (ECES) Programme on Material and Component Development for Thermal Energy Storage (SHC Task 58/ECES Annex 33). To learn first-hand how this Task supported thermal energy storage market development, we asked Wim van Helden, the SHC Task Operating Agent, to share some of his thoughts on this 3-year project.