Batteries get most of the attention in energy storage conversations, but heat is one of the oldest and most scalable storage mediums we have. Thermal Energy Storage (TES) systems capture excess heat generated during low-demand periods or peak renewable output, and release it later when demand rises or generation drops — a mechanism that turns out to be essential for weaving intermittent solar and wind power into a stable grid.

This course from Arab British Fellowship Training Academy gives participants a close look at how TES actually works: the storage mediums involved, the technologies built around them, and the operational and economic factors that decide whether a TES project succeeds. It is built to leave participants able to evaluate and integrate TES within modern energy systems.

By the End of This Programme, You Will Be Able To

• Explain the principles behind thermal energy storage and its importance within energy systems.
• Distinguish between the main TES types: sensible heat, latent heat and thermochemical storage.
• Weigh the advantages, challenges and best practices for deploying TES at small and large scale.
• Describe TES's role in improving the efficiency and sustainability of renewable energy systems.
• Assess the economic, environmental and technological factors that shape TES deployment.

Target Audience

• Energy engineers and technicians looking to expand their knowledge of thermal storage technologies.
• Renewable energy professionals working on integrating renewables with storage solutions.
• Energy policymakers and project managers developing energy infrastructure.
• Researchers and academics interested in the technical and environmental aspects of energy storage.
• Consultants and technology providers developing or deploying TES for residential, commercial or industrial use.

Module 1: The Storage Medium Everyone Forgets – Heat

• What thermal energy storage is and its role in modern energy systems.
• How TES stores and releases thermal energy for later use.
• Why TES is essential for integrating solar and wind, and for grid reliability more broadly.

Module 2: Three Ways to Store Heat – Sensible, Latent and Thermochemical

• Sensible heat storage: the basics, materials and typical applications.
• Latent heat storage: phase change materials and their role in TES.
• Thermochemical storage: how reversible chemical reactions store heat.

Module 3: Sensible Heat Storage – Materials and Design

• Storing thermal energy by changing a material's temperature.
• Common materials: water, sand and molten salts.
• Heat exchangers, storage tank design and system efficiency.

Module 4: Where Sensible Heat Storage Is Used

• Use in concentrated solar power (CSP) plants.
• Residential and commercial applications.
• Integration with district heating and cooling systems.

Module 5: Latent Heat Storage and Phase Change Materials

• The principle of latent heat and how phase change materials (PCMs) work.
• Organic, inorganic and eutectic PCM types.
• Why latent heat storage often outperforms sensible heat systems.

Module 6: Where Latent Heat Storage Is Used

• Building temperature regulation using PCMs.
• Applications in solar energy and concentrated solar power systems.
• Use in refrigeration and cooling systems.

Module 7: Thermochemical Storage – Principles and Materials

• How reversible chemical reactions store and release energy.
• Materials and reaction types used in thermochemical TES.
• How thermochemical storage differs from sensible and latent heat systems.

Module 8: Where Thermochemical Storage Is Used

• Applications in high-temperature industrial processes.
• Potential for large-scale storage within energy grids.
• Integration with renewable generation and other storage systems.

Module 9: The Business Case – Costs and Environmental Benefits

• Cost analysis across TES systems: capital investment, operations and maintenance.
• Environmental benefits of TES in reducing carbon emissions.
• TES's role in reducing grid dependence and improving energy efficiency.

Module 10: Barriers to Scaling TES

• Technical challenges in scaling TES for large applications.
• Economic and logistical barriers to wider adoption.
• Regulatory frameworks and policy challenges affecting deployment.

Module 11: Innovation and the Road Ahead for TES

• Emerging materials and technologies advancing TES systems.
• Integrating TES with smart grids and broader storage solutions.
• TES's role in achieving long-term energy sustainability goals.