ABSTRACT
Energy is one of the prime movers in the development of every nation, and fossil fuels have been playing a major role in meeting the global energy demand for the last few decades. Due to the environmental and economic constraints of fossil fuels, sustainable sources of energy and related technologies have gained attention worldwide. A significant part of the global energy demand is required by the building sector for thermal applications. Thermal energy storage (TES) for such applications is a favorable alternative to handle the current challenges in a sustainable manner. In the present chapter, various aspects and current developments of TES in buildings are discussed in detail. This chapter includes a discussion on TES types and their applications in buildings, which is followed by a detailed discussion of various mechanisms of TES and their advancement. Thereafter, the advantages and challenges associated with different TES techniques are presented. The chapter ends with the major conclusions drawn from the discussion on various major aspects of advances in TES in buildings. The present chapter may be useful for the stakeholders working in the field of TES and energy efficiency in buildings.
