M. Simó-Solsona, M. Palumbo, M. Bosch, A.I. Fernandez
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2021.102057
Energy Research & Social Science 76 (2021) 102057
Quartile Q1, Impact 6.834
Several Thermal energy storage (TES) technologies are today feasible and competitive from a scientific-technical, sustainable and economic point of view. However, the social awareness and acceptance of TES has not followed such a development, as socio-cultural and legal aspects to be considered for their broader implementation hinder it.
This paper analyses social and cultural barriers to TES adoption in the Spanish context by using quantitative and qualitative data provided from professionals and experts of the building sector.
Hereby the main ideas arising from the analysis: the economic crisis of 2008 and the poor condition of the existing building stock prevent the adoption of extensive retrofitting measures including energy efficiency solutions such as TES’ while TES is regarded as an emerging market in Mediterranean climates such as Spanish. The lack of expertise of professionals hinders the transmission of TES benefits to occupants. Besides, there is little dissemination of good practices and professionals are suspicious of the long-term performance of such technologies.
Funding
This study was supported by the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO) and the Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV) (FJCI-2016-28789). The authors would like to acknowledge financial support from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness ENE2015-64117-C5-2-R and ENE2015-64117-C5-3-R (MINECO/FEDER, UE), RTI2018-093849-B-C32 and RTI2018-093849-B-C33 MCIU/AEI/FEDER, UE and CTQ2016-77968 (MINECO/FEDER) and the Agencia Estatal de Investigación (BIA2017-88401-R). The authors would like to thank the Catalan Government for the quality accreditation given to their research groups (2017 SGR 118, 2017 SGR 1758 and 2017 SGR1125). The authors acknowledge the support from COAC and CAATEEB for the field work needed for this research.
Research category: Materials for Energy
Projects associated: MATCE: Methodology for analysis of thermal energy storage technologies towards a circular economy