Thermochemical Materials Show Promising Path for Improving Indoor Heating

Energy stored in thermochemical materials can effectively heat indoor spaces.

Salt-hydrate TCMs are considered promising candidates for providing load flexibility to a building’s heating system.

This flexibility could allow for reduced electrical requirements for the heating system or load shifting to times when electricity is less expensive and/or cleaner.

The researchers are also exploring other options for integrating TCMs into HVAC systems.

These systems are not constrained by ambient humidity but come with a separate set of challenges they hope to solve with further research.

Making this a cost-effective technology will require addressing each of these costs.