Seasonal thermal energy storage
Inter-seasonal thermal energy storage also called seasonal thermal energy storage (STES) works in a very similar way to ground source heat pumps in that heat or coolth is store in, effectively, a battery with the main difference being that rather than extracting the existing heat or coolth from the ground via the coupling effect, it actively stores heat in the ground for use many months later.
Most inter-seasonal systems are heating systems that use solar collection to increase the amount of heat energy collected during warmer summer months. The solar collection systems can be relatively simple with a network of pipes laid close to the surface beneath a dark heavy finish, such as black tarmac. As such they can be laid beneath road systems, car parks or playgrounds. Similar to ground source heat pumps, a second system of pipework is installed deeper into the ground, or potentially beneath a buildings foundations.
At a depth of around 7 metres the earth's temperature tends to remain at a natural constant 10 degrees, which is the temperature standard ground source heat pumps run at, in these seasonal systems the extra heat within the solar collectors beneath the surface is pumped down to the deeper levels to achieve a constant temperature of around degrees. The ground loops are specifically designed to be able to take these increased levels of heat and store this over longer periods of time. In the colder winter months when outside temperatures are lower, the heat from the deep pipe systems is extracted via a heat pump and can be used to heat buildings during the colder months.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Coefficient of Performance CoP.
- Dynamic thermal modelling of closed loop geothermal heat pump systems.
- Earth berm.
- Earth bermed buildings.
- Earth to air heat exchangers.
- Energy storage.
- Energy storage for buildings.
- Energy storage - the missing piece?
- Energy targets.
- Environmental policy.
- Emission rates.
- Geothermal pile foundations.
- Geothermal energy.
- Ground coupling effect.
- Ground energy options.
- Ground energy options
- Ground source heat pumps.
- Ground preconditioning of supply air.
- Large scale solar thermal energy.
- Renewable energy sources: how they work and what they deliver: Part 3: Electrically driven heat pumps DG 532 3.
- Thermal labyrinths.
- Sustainability.
- Solar photovoltaics.
- Solar thermal energy.
- The future of UK power generation.
- Thermal labyrinths.
- Wind Energy in the United Kingdom.
[edit] External Links
Featured articles and news
Combating burnout.
The 5 elements of seiri, seiton, seiso, seiketsu and shitsuke.
Shading for housing, a design guide
A look back at embedding a new culture of shading.
The Architectural Technology Awards
The AT Awards 2025 are open for entries!
ECA Blueprint for Electrification
The 'mosaic of interconnected challenges' and how to deliver the UK’s Transition to Clean Power.
Grenfell Tower Principal Contractor Award notice
Tower repair and maintenance contractor announced as demolition contractor.
Passivhaus social homes benefit from heat pump service
Sixteen new homes designed and built to achieve Passivhaus constructed in Dumfries & Galloway.
CABE Publishes Results of 2025 Building Control Survey
Concern over lack of understanding of how roles have changed since the introduction of the BSA 2022.
British Architectural Sculpture 1851-1951
A rich heritage of decorative and figurative sculpture. Book review.
A programme to tackle the lack of diversity.
Independent Building Control review panel
Five members of the newly established, Grenfell Tower Inquiry recommended, panel appointed.
Welsh Recharging Electrical Skills Charter progresses
ECA progressing on the ‘asks’ of the Recharging Electrical Skills Charter at the Senedd in Wales.
A brief history from 1890s to 2020s.
CIOB and CORBON combine forces
To elevate professional standards in Nigeria’s construction industry.
Amendment to the GB Energy Bill welcomed by ECA
Move prevents nationally-owned energy company from investing in solar panels produced by modern slavery.
Gregor Harvie argues that AI is state-sanctioned theft of IP.
Experimental AI housing target help for councils
Experimental AI could help councils meet housing targets by digitising records.