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Advances in Thermal Energy Storage Systems: Methods and Applications

A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "J: Thermal Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 24 October 2025 | Viewed by 841

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1N 3C6, Canada
Interests: thermal energy storage; heat transfer in porous media; renewable energy integration; seasonal energy storage; multiphysics energy systems
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Guest Editor
Department of Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering, Stellenbosch University, Matieland 7602, South Africa
Interests: energy storage technologies; thermal management in porous structures; sustainable energy solutions; coupled heat and mass transfer; advanced simulation of energy systems

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The global transition towards sustainable energy solutions has placed thermal energy storage (TES) at the forefront of energy research. Efficient storage of thermal energy is essential for improving energy resilience, integrating renewable energy sources, and reducing carbon emissions. From large-scale rock bed systems for seasonal energy storage to nanoscale adsorption materials for high-efficiency applications, advancements in TES technologies play a pivotal role in enhancing energy efficiency and sustainability.

This Special Issue aims to explore innovative developments in thermal energy storage systems, including but not limited to advanced storage materials, system modeling and optimization, technoeconomic assessments, and integration into industrial and residential applications. With the increasing importance of decarbonization and waste heat recovery, research on multiphysics heat transfer mechanisms, dynamic storage operation, and novel heat exchanger designs for TES systems is crucial.

We invite contributions addressing experimental, numerical, and theoretical advancements in the field, as well as studies on the role of TES in smart grids, district heating, and industrial process integration. Topics of interest include:

•    Design and optimization of thermal energy storage systems
•    Rock bed and packed bed thermal storage solutions
•    Heat transfer in porous media for TES applications
•    Seasonal thermal energy storage and long-term energy resilience
•    Phase change materials and sorption-based thermal storage
•    Integration of TES with heat pumps and renewable energy systems
•    Technoeconomic and life cycle assessment of TES technologies
•    Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and machine learning in TES modeling
•    Experimental validation and case studies of TES applications

We welcome original research articles, review papers, and short communications that contribute to the advancement of thermal energy storage technologies.

Prof. Dr. Leyla Amiri
Dr. Mostafa Safdari Shadloo
Dr. Jaap Hoffmann
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Energies is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • thermal energy storage (TES) systems
  • seasonal storage and rock bed systems
  • phase change materials and adsorption-based TES
  • heat exchanger design for TES applications
  • energy efficiency and waste heat recovery
  • multiphysics modeling and CFD approaches
  • TES integration in renewable energy systems
  • technoeconomic and lifecycle analysis of TES

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

21 pages, 1183 KB  
Article
A Performance Evaluation and Feasibility Study of Mine Thermal Energy Storage in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia
by Sara Sohrabikhah and Larry Hughes
Energies 2025, 18(17), 4780; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18174780 - 8 Sep 2025
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Abstract
Mine Thermal Energy Storage (MTES) offers a promising solution for sustainable heating by repurposing abandoned, water-filled mines as underground thermal reservoirs. This study assesses the feasibility of implementing MTES in Nova Scotia, with a focus on the Sydney coalfield region, particularly Glace Bay. [...] Read more.
Mine Thermal Energy Storage (MTES) offers a promising solution for sustainable heating by repurposing abandoned, water-filled mines as underground thermal reservoirs. This study assesses the feasibility of implementing MTES in Nova Scotia, with a focus on the Sydney coalfield region, particularly Glace Bay. The research combines geological analysis, residential heat demand estimation, thermal storage capacity estimation, and cost–benefit evaluation to determine whether abandoned coal mines can support district heating applications. Results show that MTES can deliver substantial heating cost reductions compared to oil-based systems, while significantly lowering greenhouse gas emissions. The study also explores the integration of MTES with local renewable energy sources, including wind and solar, to enhance energy system flexibility and reliability. International case studies from Springhill (Canada), Heerlen (Netherlands), and Bochum (Germany) are referenced to contextualize the analysis and demonstrate how the findings of this study align with broader MTES scalability, performance, and operational challenges. Key technical barriers, such as water quality management, infrastructure investment, and seasonal variability in heat demand, are discussed. Overall, the findings highlight MTES as a viable and sustainable energy storage approach for Nova Scotia and other regions with legacy mining infrastructure. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Thermal Energy Storage Systems: Methods and Applications)
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