Low-temperature phase change materials (PCM) for integration with sustainable heating and cooling systems for buildings

Phase change materials (PCMs) could significantly contribute to improving the efficiency of thermal energy storage by offering high energy density and constant temperature. This thermal energy storage is crucial for enabling successful implementation of sustainable heating solutions by improving their flexibility and optimizing their performance. This paper provides an overview of most promising PCMs for low-temperature thermal energy storage and discusses their possible integration with sustainable heating and cooling systems for buildings. The use of PCM-based thermal energy storage is still in the research and development phase with a limited number of demonstration projects. However, the first experiences show promising results mostly for improving the efficiency of space heating and cooling by coupling with existing conventional solutions.