Store Heat. Deliver Energy. Power Industry.
The complete thermal energy storage, heat storage & power-to-heat infrastructure ecosystem.
BARREL delivers an integrated ecosystem for thermal energy storage, thermal batteries, industrial heat infrastructure and heat-to-power solutions. From renewable energy integration and waste heat recovery to high-temperature storage and industrial power systems, we connect technology, engineering, equipment, projects and global supply chains.
BARREL.ENERGYSection 01
Heat Storage Power covers the technologies and infrastructure used to capture, store, manage and release thermal energy for later consumption or conversion into electricity. Unlike battery storage, which stores energy electrochemically, thermal energy storage (TES) holds energy as heat or cold in a storage medium.
Stored heat can be used directly in industrial processes, supplied to heating networks, or converted back into electricity through a suitable power cycle — supporting renewable integration, industrial decarbonisation, district heating, concentrated solar power and flexible generation.
Swipe sideways to see the full diagram.
Energy & heat sources
Solar thermal, surplus renewable electricity, waste heat, industrial heat, geothermal
Conversion & charging
Electric heaters, heat pumps, heat exchangers, solar receivers
Thermal energy storage
Hot water, molten salts, solid media, phase-change and thermochemical materials
Direct heat supply
Industrial processes, district heating, steam, hot water
Power generation
Steam turbine, Organic Rankine Cycle and other power cycles
The core idea
Separate the time energy is produced from the time heat or power is needed.
Charge when sun, wind, off-peak power or waste heat is available; discharge when the process, network or grid needs it.
Business line 1
Store heat for direct industrial, commercial, heating and cooling applications.
Business line 2
Convert electricity or renewable energy into stored thermal energy for later use.
Business line 3
Store heat and use a power-generation cycle to convert it into electricity when required.
Heat Storage Power is a major BARREL sector in its own right — not a subcategory of solar or battery storage. It has its own technology base, manufacturing ecosystem, engineering disciplines, industrial customers, project economics and supply chain.
Section 02
Three principal categories — sensible, latent and thermochemical — differing in storage medium, temperature range, energy density, system complexity and application.
BARREL.ENERGY2.1 · Temperature change
Stores energy by raising the temperature of a material without changing its physical state. The simplest and most widely deployed principle.
Applications: Hot-water storage, district heating, CSP, industrial heat and high-temperature storage.
2.2 · Phase change
Stores and releases thermal energy during a material's phase change — commonly solid-to-liquid and liquid-to-solid — at a nearly constant temperature.
Applications: Temperature stabilisation, buildings, industrial waste heat recovery, compact storage and process heat.
2.3 · Reversible reaction
Stores energy through reversible chemical reactions or sorption processes; heat is released when the reverse process takes place. Losses during storage can be very low.
Applications: Long-duration and seasonal storage, high energy-density storage, industrial heat and advanced energy systems.
Where each medium typically works. Actual limits depend on the material grade, containment and operating conditions.
| Technology | Storage principle | Typical application |
|---|---|---|
| Hot water | Sensible | Buildings, district heating |
| Molten salt | Sensible | CSP and power generation |
| Thermal oil | Sensible | Industrial heat |
| Rock / sand | Sensible | High-temperature storage |
| Concrete / ceramic | Sensible | Industrial heat and power |
| PCM | Latent | Compact heat storage |
| Salt hydrates | Latent | Low/medium-temperature storage |
| Thermochemical | Chemical / sorption | Long-duration storage |
Capacity, volume, mass, duration and heat-to-power output for water, oils, salts, solids and PCMs — in BARREL Office.
Q = ρ · V · cp · ΔT · Qlatent = m · L · t = Q / P
Calculators are available to staff / admin only
BARREL engineers run these with your data — formulas, assumptions, standards, step-by-step working and a PDF record.
Section 03
The same medium can be engineered in several ways — from short-term load shifting to seasonal energy balancing.
BARREL.ENERGYSwipe sideways to see the full diagram.
3.1
Separate hot and cold tanks; the medium is pumped between them through charging and discharging exchangers.
3.2
One insulated tank holds hot and cold zones separated by a temperature gradient — lower tank cost, tighter gradient control.
3.3
Standardised factory-built modules connected in parallel or series, scaled to the load.
3.4
Pressure-rated vessels hold water or working fluids above atmospheric boiling point — e.g. steam accumulators.
3.5
Large ground, aquifer or pit volumes store heat between summer and winter.
Section 04
BARREL classifies heat storage by how energy enters the system — not only by the storage technology.
BARREL.ENERGY
BARREL.ENERGYIntegrate thermal storage with solar, wind and other renewable generation to absorb surplus electricity and supply useful heat when required. The economic case depends on:
Section 05
Particularly important for industries that need continuous or intermittent heat at elevated temperatures — the hardest heat to decarbonise.
BARREL.ENERGY01
Operating temperature
02
Cycling requirements
03
Material compatibility
04
Application economics
Research and development is widening the range of materials and systems for high-temperature storage, including solid particles and advanced heat-transfer media.
Section 06
An integrated system that converts electrical or other energy into stored heat and releases it later for useful applications.
Power in → heat stored → heat or power out.
A thermal battery is not automatically an electricity battery
Section 07
Thermal storage integrated into power plants shifts electricity generation to a more valuable or required time.
BARREL.ENERGY7.1
7.2
Uses electricity or another heat source to charge a thermal store and later converts stored heat into electricity.
PTES uses electricity-driven heat pumps and thermal processes to store energy in hot and cold reservoirs. The stored thermal energy then drives a power cycle to produce electricity when required — with potential integration alongside solar PV, wind, CSP and other generation.
Charge
Heat pump moves heat from cold store to hot store
Hold
Insulated hot and cold reservoirs
Discharge
Heat engine runs between the two stores
Evaluate project by project
Section 08
A major independent BARREL vertical: each industry has its own temperature requirement, operating cycle and heat-delivery conditions.
| Industry | Heat storage opportunity | Heat level |
|---|---|---|
| Steel and iron | Furnace preheating, process heat | High |
| Cement | Kiln heat integration, waste heat recovery | High |
| Glass | High-temperature process heat | High |
| Aluminium | Melting and thermal process support | High |
| Chemicals | Steam, reaction and process heating | Medium–high |
| Petrochemicals | Process heat and steam | Medium–high |
| Fertilisers | Steam and thermal process integration | Medium–high |
| Ceramics | Kiln and drying heat | High |
| Pulp and paper | Steam and drying processes | Medium |
| Mining | Mineral processing and drying | Medium |
| Textiles | Dyeing, drying and hot-water systems | Low–medium |
| Food processing | Pasteurisation, drying, cooking | Low–medium |
| Pharmaceuticals | Process heating and hot water | Low–medium |
| Automotive | Paint shops, washing and process heat | Low–medium |
| Desalination | Thermal processes and heat integration | Low–medium |
| Data centres | Heat recovery and reuse | Low |
Heat level is indicative: high above ≈ 400 °C, medium ≈ 150–400 °C, low below ≈ 150 °C.
BARREL.ENERGYSection 09
Thermal storage supports both heating and cooling. Large heat networks combine recovered heat, renewable heat, heat pumps and storage.
BARREL.ENERGYSection 10
BARREL organises plant infrastructure into clearly defined engineering packages.
BARREL.ENERGYSection 11
The full engineering process — from energy assessment to detailed system integration.
BARREL.ENERGY11.1 · CONCEPT
11.2 · FEED
11.3 · DETAIL
11.4 · INTEGRATION
Section 12
Storage equipment, heat generation and conversion, heat transfer, materials and the electrical and automation hardware around them.
Supply network
Manufacturers, OEMs and distributors
List tanks, heaters, exchangers, insulation, salts, PCM and controls on the BARREL supplier network and procurement exchange.
Section 13
A complete project-development and execution lifecycle — from identification to final handover.
BARREL.ENERGY13.1
13.2
13.3
13.4
13.5
13.6
Packages offered according to the customer's requirement and project maturity.
| Package | Scope | Project stage |
|---|---|---|
| Package A | Feasibility, consulting and project development | Develop |
| Package B | Thermal energy audit and heat demand assessment | Develop |
| Package C | Technology selection and basic engineering | Engineer |
| Package D | Thermal storage equipment supply | Procure |
| Package E | Civil, structural and mechanical infrastructure | Build |
| Package F | Electrical, instrumentation and automation | Build |
| Package G | Complete thermal storage EPC | Turnkey |
| Package H | Industrial heat recovery and integration | Turnkey |
| Package I | Thermal battery installation | Turnkey |
| Package J | Heat-to-power generation integration | Turnkey |
| Package K | Plant operation and maintenance | Operate |
| Package L | Modernisation, expansion and lifecycle management | Operate |
Section 14
Running the plant, keeping it healthy and proving its performance — from charging schedules to NDT and acceptance tests.
BARREL.ENERGYSection 15
Thermal storage can involve high temperatures, pressurised fluids, molten materials, electrical loads, chemical substances and large industrial equipment. Safety engineering starts at concept stage.
Selected according to storage medium, equipment type, operating conditions and jurisdiction.
| Organisation / framework | Relevance |
|---|---|
| ISO 50001 | Energy management systems |
| ISO 9001 | Quality management |
| ISO 14001 | Environmental management |
| ISO 45001 | Occupational health and safety |
| ASME BPVC | Applicable pressure equipment and vessels |
| ASME B31.1 | Power piping, where applicable |
| ASME B31.3 | Process piping, where applicable |
| IEC | Electrical and automation systems |
| IEEE | Electrical power systems |
| ASTM | Material testing and specifications |
| API | Applicable tank and petroleum-industry equipment standards |
| NFPA | Applicable fire protection requirements |
| EN standards | Applicable European equipment and system requirements |
Verify for each project
Section 16
The business case depends on far more than the tank or medium: energy source, charging cost, heat demand, temperatures, efficiency, storage losses, operating profile and the value of energy delivered.
Commercial caution
Section 17
A dedicated BARREL portfolio for research, project development, technology partnerships and future commercial deployment.
Maturity tags are indicative for the group as a whole. Some technologies are commercially established in particular applications, others remain at demonstration or research stage — BARREL identifies maturity and reference-project evidence before presenting any solution as commercially proven.
Section 18
A connected business ecosystem — not only an EPC contractor or equipment supplier.
01
Project Development
Identification, feasibility, project structuring
02
Consulting
Technical, commercial and energy advisory
03
Energy Auditing
Heat demand and energy consumption assessment
04
Thermal Engineering
Thermal design, analysis and system integration
05
Civil Engineering
Site development, foundations and structures
06
Mechanical Engineering
Tanks, vessels, piping and equipment
07
Electrical Engineering
Power supply, distribution and grid integration
08
Instrumentation & Automation
PLC, DCS, SCADA and monitoring
09
Heat Storage EPC
Complete thermal storage plant execution
10
Thermal Battery Systems
Industrial thermal battery projects
11
High-Temperature Storage
Solid, molten and advanced media
12
Solar Thermal Integration
Solar heat and CSP integration
13
Industrial Heat
Process heat and steam solutions
14
Waste Heat Recovery
Recovery, reuse and storage
15
Heat-to-Power
Thermal storage power generation systems
16
District Heating & Cooling
Network and storage infrastructure
17
Equipment Manufacturing
Storage tanks, modules and plant equipment
18
Equipment Supply
Industrial equipment and materials
19
Import & Export
International equipment and material trade
20
Procurement Services
Vendor development and procurement
21
Testing & Inspection
Performance, quality and equipment testing
22
Operations & Maintenance
Plant operation and maintenance
23
Asset Management
Lifecycle and performance management
24
Project Finance
Investment, financial modelling and structuring
25
Technology Development
Research, innovation and strategic partnerships
BARREL.ENERGY
Business development · Projects · Commercial ecosystem
Project Developers
Project owners and investors
Technology Partners
Thermal storage technology
Manufacturing Partners
Equipment and materials
Authorized Suppliers
Verified supply network
Authorized Service Providers
Engineering and maintenance
EPC Partners
Construction and execution
Finance Partners
Capital and project finance
Research Partners
Innovation and development
Customers and project owners
Power utilities · Industrial companies · Governments · Developers · Infrastructure operators
Partner registration and supplier verification are not certification of engineering competence, regulatory approval or technology performance — those need separate evidence and qualification.
Section 19
A dedicated technical and commercial knowledge platform for the thermal energy storage industry, connected to BARREL Power Intelligence and BARREL OS.
Each calculator states its inputs, units, method, assumptions, outputs and technical limits.
Calculators are available to staff / admin only
Estimates vs engineered design
Calculator results are preliminary. Pressure equipment, structural design, safety assessment and detailed process design outputs must be reviewed by qualified engineers before procurement, construction or operation.
| Platform module | Proposed functions |
|---|---|
| Heat Storage Intelligence | Knowledge, technology and technical library |
| Thermal Equipment Exchange | Equipment catalogue and procurement |
| Supplier Registry | Manufacturer and supplier verification |
| Contractor Registry | Engineering, installation and O&M providers |
| Project Exchange | Heat storage projects and opportunities |
| Engineering Centre | Calculators, design tools and documentation |
| Cost Intelligence | CAPEX, OPEX and equipment benchmarks |
| Project Management | EPC, construction and commissioning |
| Plant Operations | Charging, discharging and operating records |
| Asset Management | Equipment, maintenance and lifecycle |
| Research Centre | Emerging technologies and innovation |
| Finance Centre | Project finance and investment opportunities |
Dedicated technology, application, engineering, equipment and service pages — the full library is in the last tab.
Section 20
35 dedicated pages — every technology, material, application, engineering discipline, delivery service and business topic of the sector in depth.
Principles and storage system types
Salts, solids, PCM, TCM and high temperature
Industry, solar, power-to-heat, heat-to-power, networks
Design, civil, mechanical, electrical, automation
Equipment, manufacturing, EPC, testing, O&M
Finance, calculators, knowledge, projects
Project & partnership desk
Thermal energy storage can transform how industries and power systems use energy. By storing heat when it is available and delivering it when it is needed, it improves energy flexibility, uses renewable electricity, recovers industrial waste heat and supports more efficient industrial operations. Tell us about your heat demand, site or technology — BARREL connects developers, industries, technology providers, manufacturers, EPC contractors and investors.
