Reviewing experimental studies on chemical thermal energy storage in Cementitious composites: report of the RILEM TC 299-TES

Thermochemical energy storage (TCES) is a method of storing energy by using reversible chemical reactions to absorb and release heat. TCES materials generally possess the highest volumetric energy density and negligible heat losses during cyclic charging/discharging when compared with sensible and latent heat storage materials. The controllable charging/discharging processes in the TCES materials make them suitable for long-term or seasonal thermal energy storage, which can help improve the resilience of the existing energy system and built environment. In recent years, there has been a growing number of studies on the use of cementitious materials as low-cost and low-carbon thermochemical energy storage materials, including ettringite, calcium aluminate cements, and geopolymers. In this study, the state-of-the-art development using cementitious materials for thermo-chemical energy/heat storage applications is reviewed and systematically compared in terms of their compositions, energy storage operating conditions, and energy storage performance. Technical recommendations are proposed for standardised characterisation and testing protocols of these cementitious (composite) materials used for thermochemical heat storage. The current research challenges and future research needs in this field are also discussed.