Thermal energy storage comprises a number of technologies that store thermal energy in energy storage reservoirs for later use. They can be employed to balance energy demand between day time and night time. The thermal reservoir may be maintained at a temperature above (hotter) or below (colder) that of the ambient environment. The applications today include the production of ice, chilled water, or eutectic solution at night, or hot water which is then used to cool / heat environments during the day.
Thermal energy is often accumulated from active solar collector or more often combined heat and power plants, and transferred to insulated repositories for use later in various applications, such as space heating, domestic or process water heating.
Read more about Thermal Energy Storage: Solar Energy Storage, Economics, Water Storage in Tanks or Rock Caverns, Heat Storage in Hot Rocks, Concrete, Pebbles Etc, Electric Thermal Storage Heaters, Ice-based Technology, Cryogenic Energy Storage, Molten Salt Technology, Research
Famous quotes containing the words energy and/or storage:
“Just as we are learning to value and conserve the air we breathe, the water we drink, the energy we use, we must learn to value and conserve our capacity for nurture. Otherwise, in the name of human potential we will slowly but surely erode the source of our humanity.”
—Elaine Heffner (20th century)
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