INTERSTORES participated in Eurotherm Seminar #119, held from 13–15 May 2026 at the University of Lleida, Spain, contributing both project-level visibility and research insights to discussions on future thermal energy storage systems.
Representing the consortium, Natalie Peracha (THI) and Curtis Meister (HSLU) participated in the Europe’s Corner Workshop, presenting:
“Heating Caverns & Former Firewater Basins: The Project INTERSTORES”
The session introduced the INTERSTORES approach to advancing cost- and environmentally efficient seasonal Thermal Energy Storage (sTES) solutions through innovative demonstration concepts and collaborative research across Europe.
The presentation highlighted the project’s two demonstration pathways:
📍 Reno-sTES (Ingolstadt, Germany) – transforming existing infrastructure into a large-scale ground-based thermal storage solution through re-use and circular approaches.
📍 Varanto (Vantaa, Finland) – contributing to the development of one of the world’s largest constructed seasonal thermal energy storage facilities based on underground cavern concepts.
Alongside project dissemination activities, Natalie Peracha (THI) delivered the research presentation:
“A Techno-Economic Analysis of a Large-Scale Thermal Storage Facility Utilizing Existing Infrastructure”
The work explored how different economic evaluation methods influence seasonal thermal energy storage design decisions and demonstrated the importance of combining investment and technology perspectives to support future deployment and decision-making.
The event created valuable opportunities for networking and exchange with international researchers and projects active in thermal storage and energy system innovation. Discussions focused on different storage concepts, design approaches, and the broader role of thermal storage in supporting the energy transition.
With approximately 150 participants from countries including Germany, Finland, Spain, Italy, Austria, Canada, Australia, Switzerland, and China, Eurotherm Seminar #119 provided an excellent platform to strengthen INTERSTORES visibility and foster new connections across the international thermal energy community.
Thank you to everyone who engaged with the discussions and contributed to advancing seasonal thermal energy storage research and implementation.
