Dr Pawel D.Nycz, a Research Associate in Energy storage systems and technologies, was involved with the study. (Image credit: Dr Pawel D.Nycz)
A material that freezes and melts in order to store and use heat as an energy source could see household energy usage become cheaper and cleaner, a project from experts at Loughborough University has found.
Researchers at Loughborough University developed and tested a thermal energy storage (TES) system using phase change materials (PCMs) for domestic heating. Phase change materials are substances that release or absorb energy when transitioning from one state matter to another – for example, from solid to liquid - to provide useful heat or cooling.
It is hoped that this method of heat transfer will improve energy storage efficiency, reduce heat loss, and make the system practical for homes.
As the energy industry constantly seeks new ways to improve energy efficiency and decarbonise processes, this system offers a new way to transfer heat efficiently.
Further to this, heat pumps are growing in popularity, but they stress electricity grids during peak times. TES systems have the capability to store heat when energy is cheap or abundant and release it later, reducing costs and grid strain.
Academics at Loughborough University, led by Dr Pawel Dominik Nycz from the School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering, built three modular units, with each module storing about 3.5 kWh of useful heat.
The new design provided better insulation and reduced void spaces, enabling for better heat transfer.
They found that this third-generation model kept heat above 50°C for ~162 hours (almost 7 days), much better than earlier versions, with the system being compact, efficient, and cost-effective for domestic heating.
The system was found to work well with heat pumps for low-carbon heating, could help reduce electricity costs and grid stress, and was also scalable and adaptable for domestic homes.
Dr Pawel D.Nycz, a Research Associate in Energy storage systems and technologies, said of the findings of the study: “Heat storage will play a critical role in decarbonising home heating. Technologies like ours can work alongside heat pumps, reducing peak demand and helping households transition to cleaner energy without increasing costs."
Notes for editors
Press release reference number: 26/50
Loughborough is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.
It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme and named the best university in the world for sports-related subjects in the 2025 QS World University Rankings – the ninth year running.
Loughborough has been ranked seventh in the Complete University Guide 2026 – out of 130 institutions. This milestone marks a decade in the top ten for Loughborough – a feat shared only by the universities of Oxford, Cambridge, LSE, St Andrews, Durham and Imperial.
Loughborough was also named University of the Year for Sport in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025 - the fourth time it has been awarded the prestigious title.
In the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 over 90% of its research was rated as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally-excellent’. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, Loughborough has been awarded eight Queen Elizabeth Prizes for Higher and Further Education.
The Loughborough University London campus is based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and offers postgraduate and executive-level education, as well as research and enterprise opportunities. It is home to influential thought leaders, pioneering researchers and creative innovators who provide students with the highest quality of teaching and the very latest in modern thinking.
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