L.P. McLaughlin
Sandia National Laboratories,
United States
Keywords: Thermal Energy Storage, Industrial Process Heat, Asphalt, Dispatch Strategy
Summary:
This study explores the integration of photovoltaic (PV) power generation with electrically charged thermal energy storage (TES) to enhance energy independence and cost control in the production of hot mix asphalt (HMA) and fine aggregates (FA). Energy-intensive industries face challenges due to fluctuating fossil fuel prices and supply chain vulnerabilities, particularly in HMA and FA production, which require significant thermal energy. By shifting some thermal energy supply from real-time fuel combustion to stored electrical heat, PV+TES systems can optimize energy procurement and reduce reliance on volatile fuel markets. A techno-economic analysis conducted on facilities in Grants, NM, reveals that the FA production facility can achieve competitive levelized cost of energy (LCOE) and payback periods of less than 10 years, with some configurations yielding payback in under 5 years due to reduced natural gas consumption. Although the HMA facility can only supply up to 12% of its thermal load through PV+TES, it still benefits from attractive returns due to high electrical capacity and favorable export economics. The findings emphasize the importance of system sizing, TES capacity, and dispatch strategy in maximizing economic performance, demonstrating that PV-coupled TES can enhance cost predictability and operational resilience in energy-intensive industries.