What is thermal storage used for?

• A. To store energy for heating or cooling until needed.
• B. To generate energy on demand.
• C. To monitor energy usage.
• D. To cool spaces without storage.

Answer: (A)

Thermal storage stores heat or cold for later use, allowing heating or cooling to be provided when it’s actually needed rather than at the moment energy is generated. This lets you shift energy use to off-peak times, reduce peak demand, and often lower costs. For cooling, you can chill water or make ice during off-peak hours and then use that stored coolness to meet daytime loads. For heating, hot water or phase-change materials store heat to release it as needed. Because the purpose is to have energy available later, this is the best description of thermal storage. It isn’t about generating energy on demand, monitoring energy usage, or cooling without storage.