2019 commercial building energy storage

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.

What are the new energy standards for commercial buildings in Colorado?

For example, in August 2023, Colorado’s Air Quality Control Commission3 established new energy performance standards for buildings 50,000 square feet and larger to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas pollution. Additionally, the overall energy demand for heating and cooling in commercial buildings is expected to increase in the coming years.

What types of energy management systems are used in commercial buildings?

Energy management systems vary substantially between large commercial buildings and small commercial/residential buildings. Large commercial buildings use building automation systems to monitor and control HVAC, lighting, and other subsystems.

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.

How can buildings help reduce peak electricity demand?

Buildings can play a large role in reducing the peak demand because they are the primary driver of peak electricity demand. Buildings can contribute to this service by both lowering the overall need for generation through energy efficiency as well as providing short-term load reduction to address system peaks.

What are the benefits of thermal storage?

These materials can thus reduce and shift the timing of heating or cooling energy demand. The primary grid benefit of thermal storage is load shifting by supplanting HVAC system operation during peak hours and using the HVAC system to recharge the storage during off-peak hours.