STATUS OF SEASONAL THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE IN GERMANY by ∗

The paper presents a summary and review of the present status of R&D of seasonal thermal energy storage activities in Germany. Two different strategies are in investigation: small scale decentralized solar assisted heating systems of single family houses as well as large scale district heating with central seasonal stores. Sensible and thermochemical energy storage technologies show different technical and economic prospects in both heating schemes. R&D efforts on large scale storage technologies are included in the programme Solarthermie-2000 of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi). The review includes a comprehensive technical-economic evaluation of first pilot and demonstration plants with different seasonal thermal energy storage technologies.