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Last Update: 10/26/2026 at 11:33 PM EST
Thermal Energy Storage
Coverage from The Hindu BusinessLine, Nature Communications, and others
Thermal energy storage uses materials and systems that retain energy as heat and release it for space heating, cooling, industrial processes, or electricity generation.
Approaches range from compact salt-hydrate phase-change batteries paired with heat pumps to thermochemical systems and high-temperature designs using molten metal, carbon blocks, and thermophotovoltaics. These technologies can shift consumption away from peak periods, absorb surplus renewable power, reduce grid stress, and replace some fossil-fuel use in industrial facilities. Applications span residential heating, commercial buildings, distributed energy networks, long-duration grid storage, and industrial heat.
Looking Back
264 Day Timeline
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All Articles24 articles
Important
Researchers in Mexico, the United States, Spain, Italy, and Switzerland developed solar thermal systems for industrial heat and compressed-air storage, including a Chilean model and an Indian proposal program.
9/21/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
A five-year simulation tests solid-state hydrogen storage and magnesium-looping carbon capture to balance wind power variability and reduce backup CO2 emissions.
4/21/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
Researchers benchmark perforated-tube salt-hydrate thermochemical energy storage for building heating under winter solar-coupled conditions.
2/1/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
University of Birmingham researchers test a 5 kW thermochemical energy storage prototype in the United Kingdom to convert surplus renewable electricity into on demand heating and cooling for commercial buildings.
1/15/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
European researchers led by SINTEF report a recycled aluminum thermal battery storing heat for homes and energy communities in Europe, enabling heat pumps to operate when electricity is available.
1/15/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
Cal Poly Pomona researchers Reza Lakeh and Belal Hasan are developing renewable thermal energy storage for food dehydration in Pomona, California.
9/1/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
The Renewable Thermal Collaborative identified 80 electro-thermal energy storage projects in 20 countries as industrial users adopt renewable-electricity-based process heat.
9/20/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
Interesting
In 2023, a Mexico City sports club installed solar thermal collectors and photovoltaics for hot water and pool heating, reducing conventional energy consumption by 85%.
9/24/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
In a study published in Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments, researchers from China compared thermal energy storage and heat pumps for industrial heating under modeled negative electricity prices using Shandong tariff data.
9/23/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
Electrified Thermal Solutions will deploy a 20-megawatt-hour Joule Hive thermal battery with Holcim to evaluate electric heat for cement manufacturing.
9/19/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
SINTEF and COWA Thermal Solutions have introduced a salt-hydrate thermal battery for residential heat pumps, targeting cheaper, grid-friendly home heating in Europe.
1/17/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
In 2026, researchers from SINTEF and partners in Norway and Switzerland reported a compact salt-hydrate thermal storage system that enhances residential heat pump flexibility and grid integration.
1/14/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
SINTEF and COWA Thermal Solutions announced in 2026 the development of a compact salt-hydrate thermal battery for residential heat pumps in Europe.
1/11/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
Tempo, based in San Diego, plans facility expansion and UC San Diego and Dow Chemical deployments for thermochemical industrial heat storage.
7/7/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
POET and Antora Energy launched a carbon-block thermal storage system in Big Stone City, South Dakota, to supply ethanol process heat from surplus wind electricity.
6/19/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
Antora Energy builds a 5-gigawatt-hour thermal battery for POET's Big Stone City ethanol plant in South Dakota, storing curtailed wind to provide heat or electricity by October.
5/23/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
University of Birmingham researchers unveiled a 5 kW thermochemical energy storage demonstrator in Birmingham, United Kingdom, in January 2026.
1/14/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
Antora Energy began commissioning a 5-gigawatt-hour thermal energy storage system at Poet’s ethanol plant near Big Stone City, South Dakota, alongside a multi-state approved flexible-load electricity tariff.
5/27/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
Antora Energy and POET are commissioning a 5-gigawatt-hour thermophotovoltaic carbon-block thermal battery in South Dakota with full power targeted for October.
5/23/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
Antora Energy plans a 5 gigawatt-hour thermal battery in South Dakota to store curtailed wind power for electricity and industrial heat at POET’s Big Stone City ethanol plant.
5/22/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
SINTEF Norway and COWA Thermal Solutions have developed a salt hydrate thermal storage system to enable private home heat pumps to shift heat to times of low electricity prices.
1/1/1900 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
Antora Energy deployed 200+ thermal batteries in South Dakota by replacing coal boiler steam with wind-powered stored heat for industrial steam supply.
6/5/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
Hayden Smith of FeX Energy discussed an iron-based thermal storage system for renewable electricity and industrial heat during an Earthlings 2.0 episode.
6/2/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
Additional
Fourth Power plans a 1-megawatt-hour thermal battery demonstration in Bedford, Massachusetts later this year to store excess grid electricity using thermophotovoltaic conversion.
3/18/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General