Perspective on the Development of Energy Storage Technology Using Phase Change Materials in the Construction Industry: A Review

Sandra Cunha (), Antonella Sarcinella, José Aguiar and Mariaenrica Frigione
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Sandra Cunha: Department of Civil Engineering, Environment and Construction (CTAC), Centre for Territory, Campus de Azurém, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimaraes, Portugal
Antonella Sarcinella: Innovation Engineering Department, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy
José Aguiar: Department of Civil Engineering, Environment and Construction (CTAC), Centre for Territory, Campus de Azurém, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimaraes, Portugal
Mariaenrica Frigione: Innovation Engineering Department, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 12, 1-32

Abstract: The construction industry is responsible for high energetic consumption, especially associated with buildings’ heating and cooling needs. This issue has attracted the attention of the scientific community, governments and authorities from all over the world, especially in the European Union, motivated by recent international conflicts which forced the countries to rethink their energy policies. Over the years, energy consumption has been based on non-renewable energy sources such as natural gas, oil and coal. Nowadays, it is urgent to implement solutions that aim to minimize these high energetic consumptions and act based on clean and renewable energy sources. In recent years, phase change materials (PCM) have become an area of high interest and development, since they allow to minimize the energy consumption in buildings, based in solar energy, due to their thermal storage capacity. The main objective of this work consists of a perspective of the evolution of the development and application of thermal storage technology through the incorporation of PCM in the construction sector, focusing on the last 10 years of research, showing the most recent developments of its application in construction materials, such as mortars, concrete, incorporation in porous aggregates, naturally based materials, carbon-based materials, boards, blocks and solar thermal systems.

Keywords: energy efficiency; thermal storage technology; phase change materials (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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