Energy storage installations in North American office buildings

What is inter-office energy storage?

An inter-office energy storage project in collaboration with the Department of Energy's Vehicle Technologies Office, Building Technologies Office, and Solar Energy Technologies Office to provide foundational science enabling cost-effective pathways for optimized design and operation of hybrid thermal and electrochemical energy storage systems.

Can thermal energy storage be used in buildings?

Through industry partnerships, NREL researchers address technical barriers to deployment and widespread adoption of thermal energy storage in buildings. In the United States, buildings consume approximately 39% of all primary energy and 74% of all electricity.

What is thermal energy storage R&D?

BTO's Thermal Energy Storage R&D programs develops cost-effective technologies to support both energy efficiency and demand flexibility.

What is thermal energy storage?

Thermal energy storage (TES) is one of several approaches to support the electrification and decarbonization of buildings. To electrify buildings eficiently, electrically powered heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment such as a heat pump can be integrated with TES systems.

Can thermal energy storage be a building decarbonization resource?

NREL is significantly advancing the viability of thermal energy storage (TES) as a building decarbonization resource for a highly renewable energy future. Through industry partnerships, NREL researchers address technical barriers to deployment and widespread adoption of thermal energy storage in buildings.

Is space heating and cooling a viable energy storage solution?

Space heating and cooling account for up to 40% of the energy used in commercial buildings.1 Aligning this energy consumption with renewable energy generation through practical and viable energy storage solutions will be critical to achieving 100% clean energy by 2050.