Swimming pool thermal energy storage, an alternative for distributed cooling energy storage

Hunt, JD, Zakeri, B, Leal Filho, W, Schneider, PS, Weber, NDAB, Vieira, LW, Ermel, C, Castro, NJD, Barbosa, PSF, Nascimento, A and Mastrucci, A (2021) Swimming pool thermal energy storage, an alternative for distributed cooling energy storage. Energy Conversion and Management, 230. ISSN 0196-8904

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Abstract

© 2020 The Author(s) The rise in distributed renewable energy generation creates a growing need to find viable solutions for energy storage to match energy demand and supply at any time. This paper evaluates the possibility of using swimming pools as a long-term cooling energy storage solution, i.e., Swimming Pool Thermal Energy Storage (SPTES). This technology allows a small building to store solar energy for cooling purposes in a yearly cycle, by filling the pool with ice slurry in winter and using that ice to cool the house in the summertime. Additionally, the pool can be used as a heat sink for a heat pump to heat the house during the winter. Results show that the energy storage cost of 0.078 US$ kWhe−1 is substantially smaller when compared with batteries (125 US$ kWhe−1). This makes SPTES a good alternative to support the development of 100% renewable energy systems in locations where the climate has a highly seasonal variation in temperature and the cooling demand is high in summer.