The energy demand by the private sector for buildings HVAC systems has increased significantly, driving the scientific community to find different alternatives to reduce this high energy demand. Phase change materials (PCMs) are presented as materials with high thermal energy storage (TES)...

The use of thermal energy storage by phase change materials (PCM) is increasing in interest for building applications. For the deployment of the technology, appropriate characterization of PCM and hybrid PCM is essential, but it is not always possible to carry it out with conventional equipment,...

The use of thermal energy storage (TES) systems for solar heating and cooling applications has received considerable attention in recent decades because it has a high potential in energy savings. Phase change materials (PCMs) can store large amount of energy per mass unit compared with other TES...

This paper presents a review of the literature on low carbon and low embodied energy materials in buildings. Embodied energy is defined and discussed vs. operating energy of buildings and its growing importance due to the implementation of the Energy Building Performance Directive (EBPD) in...

Thermal properties of materials used in building envelopes must be analysed in order to evaluate the thermal response of the constructive system. This thermal characterisation is a key point during the design phase of a building. However, thermal characterisation of constructive systems at...

Microencapsulated phase change materials (MPCM) are well known in advanced technologies for the utilization in active and passive systems, which have the capacity to absorb and slowly release the latent heat involved in a phase change process. Microcapsules consist of little containers, which...

The goal of this study is to implement and to test a thermal energy storage (TES) system using different phase change materials (PCM) for solar cooling applications. A high temperature pilot plant able to test different types of TES systems and materials was designed and built at the University...

The present work compares the environmental impact of three different thermal energy storage (TES) systems for solar power plants. A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for these systems is developed: sensible heat storage both in solid (high temperature concrete) and liquid (molten salts) thermal...

Thermal energy storage (TES) is nowadays presented as one of the most feasible solutions in achieving energy savings and environmentally correct behaviors. Its potential applications have led to R&D activities and to the development of various technology types. However, so far there is no...

Concentrated solar thermal power generation is becoming a very attractive renewable energy production system among all the different renewable options, as it has have a better potential for dispatchability. This dispatchability is inevitably linked with an efficient and cost-effective thermal...