Techno-Economic Analysis for the Addition of Thermal Energy Storage to a Campus With Existing Battery Storage

Woldekidan, Korbaga; Bianchi, Carlo; Fallahi, Zahra; LaClair, Tim J.

doi:10.1115/1.4069027

Techno-Economic Analysis for the Addition of Thermal Energy Storage to a Campus With Existing Battery Storage

Journal Article · Fri Jul 11 04:00:00 EDT 2025 · Journal of Engineering for Sustainable Buildings and Cities

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4069027· OSTI ID:2583613

Woldekidan, Korbaga ^[1]; Bianchi, Carlo ^[1]; Fallahi, Zahra ^[2]; LaClair, Tim J. ^[1]

National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
University of Colorado, Boulder, CO (United States)

Rising global temperatures and increasing energy demands pose significant challenges for energy management, particularly in institutional and commercial settings. As cooling needs grow, campuses must balance operational efficiency, cost control, and grid stability. Energy storage solutions, such as thermal energy storage (TES) systems, offer a promising approach to shifting energy consumption from peak to off-peak periods, alleviating peak demand, reducing utility costs, and enhancing grid resilience. When integrated with existing battery energy storage systems (BESS), TES can further optimize load management and improve energy savings, especially in buildings with diverse energy needs. This article presents a techno-economic analysis of integrating a chilled water TES system into the central plant at California State University, Dominguez Hills, which already operates a BESS. We assess three TES sizing strategies—full storage, load leveling, and peak demand limiting—by modeling and simulations based on historical energy loads. Our findings show that we can control TES systems to complement BESS operation, with campus-level load leveling providing the greatest cost savings by reducing peak demands. Furthermore, the study also evaluates the long-term economic viability of TES, considering installation costs, energy savings, and payback periods under varying tariffs. This research offers practical guidance for institutions seeking to enhance energy resilience and reduce operational costs through energy storage solutions.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: AC36-08GO28308

OSTI ID:: 2583613

Report Number(s):: NREL/JA--5500-91690

Journal Information:: Journal of Engineering for Sustainable Buildings and Cities, Journal Name: Journal of Engineering for Sustainable Buildings and Cities Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 6; ISSN 2642-6625; ISSN 2642-6641

Publisher:: AMSECopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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