© Adobe Stock
Heat storage facilitates the utilisation of surplus heat and environmental heat, which reduces emissions caused by incineration. When connected to a district heating network, heat storages promote a carbon-neutral energy system. The new Canemure Best Practices publication presents best practices and examples of heat storage utilisation. The publication is intended for all those responsible for and deciding on energy matters in municipalities and regions.
The publication presents different types of heat storage, such as water storage, mineral-based storage and heat storage in the soil. Practical examples of how heat storage facilities have been utilised in Finnish municipalities are central.
Heat storage contributes to the electrification of heating and emission reductions
Heat storage increases the flexibility of the energy system, reduces the need for peak production, and improves the possibilities for utilising surplus and environmental heat. In heating, incineration and emissions can be reduced particularly with heat pumps, which collect heat from the ground, air, water bodies and the surplus heat of industrial processes, buildings, data centres and wastewater treatment plants. Heat storage facilities relying on electrical resistors can contribute to the frequency control and demand response of the electricity grid, improving the cost-effectiveness of the storage facility.
“There is a growing need for energy storage, as both electricity and heat production aim to move away from incineration and to switch to renewable energy sources with variable production,” says Teemu Helonheimo, Researcher at the Finnish Environment Institute.
The length and purpose of the storage cycle of heat storages vary. For example, they can balance daily peak powers for short periods of time or store heat for several months. Seasonal storages, such as large water tanks and medium-deep geothermal wells, can be used to store heat produced in the summer for the heating needs of autumn and winter.
Read the publication
Further information
- researcher Teemu Helonheimo, Finnish Environment Institute SYKE, firstname.lastname@syke.fi