Background

Making use of the heat-storage capacity of building components that already exist is an important contribution to building a renewable energy system, because it can help balance the mismatch that is typical for renewable energy between generation and demand. The technology addressed here is TABS – Thermally Activated Building Systems. Managing this storage capacity enables greater use of locally generated renewable energy (solar thermal, photovoltaics, small wind, small hydropower, etc.), renewable “surplus electricity” from the grid in combination with heat pumps, and time-shifting of heat delivery by hours or days (load shifting, grid-supportive electricity use at times of low CO2 emissions), as well as flexibility options in micro, local, and district heating networks. As in the power grid, shifting loads can also relieve heat generation plants and network infrastructure.

In addition to using the building component’s thermal storage capacity, supplying heat from the district-heating return line is an interesting option for district-heating operators due to the low supply temperatures required, as it can increase both efficiency and network capacity.