ENERSTOCK 2021, 15th International virtual conference on energy storage

INTRODUCTION: Due to their considerable flexibility and balancing potential, storage systems will play an important role in the integration of renewable energy sources in the future. The heating sector accounts for around 50% of Austria's final energy demand and around 60% of it is still covered by fossil fuels. Therefore, there is huge potential to increase the share of renewable energy in the heat sector. Renewable heat and electricity sources tend to be fluctuating and often unpredictable and therefore difficult to utilise effectively without introducing storage components. It is generally known that hybrid storage solutions (both electricity and heat) are necessary to introduce a degree of flexibility in buildings and to bridge the gap between supply and demand. For this reason, various technologies for storage and conversion of heat and electricity are being developed and installed in households to reduce their dependency on heating, electrical or gas grids.