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Solar Thermal Energy Systems

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Exploring the efficiency of Seasonal Thermal Energy Storage (STES) systems and solar thermal technologies, this text delves into various applications such as centralized solar district heating, interseasonal and short-term thermal storage, solar cooling, and high-temperature solar collectors. It highlights innovative designs in solar energy collection and the importance of heat exchange in maximizing system performance for residential, commercial, and industrial use.

Seasonal Thermal Energy Storage (STES) Systems

Seasonal Thermal Energy Storage (STES) systems are a collection of technologies that store thermal energy on a seasonal basis, allowing for the capture of heat during warmer months for use during colder periods. These systems are particularly effective in regions with significant seasonal temperature variations and are instrumental in harnessing solar energy for year-round heating. STES technologies include the use of aquifers, borehole thermal energy storage, and insulated water tanks, among others. The Drake Landing Solar Community in Alberta, Canada, exemplifies the success of STES by providing 97% of the community's space heating needs from solar energy, demonstrating the viability and efficiency of these systems in residential applications.
Solar thermal power plant with reflective parabolic mirrors, dark central tubes and processing facilities in an arid landscape under a blue sky.

Centralized Solar District Heating

Centralized solar district heating systems utilize large-scale solar collectors and thermal storage to provide heating to multiple buildings within a district. These systems benefit from economies of scale and can efficiently manage the distribution of heat through a centralized network. Concentrated solar thermal (CST) plants are a key component of such systems, capturing and storing solar energy in thermal reservoirs for later use. This approach ensures a stable and sustainable heating supply, even during times when solar irradiance is low, by leveraging the thermal inertia of the storage medium.

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00

STES is highly effective in areas with large ______ temperature differences.

seasonal

01

STES technologies utilize ______, among other methods, to store thermal energy.

aquifers

borehole thermal energy storage

insulated water tanks

02

The ______ in Alberta, Canada, is a prime example of STES, meeting 97% of its heating needs with solar energy.

Drake Landing Solar Community

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