Energy intensification using thermal storage

Thermal energy storage (TES) is a cost-effective technology that can greatly improve the performance of energy systems that have dynamic supply or demand. In solar thermal systems, TES plus controls enables the power output of the plant to be intensified and effectively regulated, despite fluctuating solar irradiance. In district energy systems, TES can be used to shift loads, allowing the system to take advantage of variable energy prices. The benefit of TES can be significantly enhanced by dynamically optimizing the complete energy system. The ability of TES to shift loads gives the system new degrees of freedom that can be exploited to yield optimal performance and improve thermal efficiency.