DISTRICT HEATING – THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE TANKS SINCE 1991
Thermal energy storage tanks for district heating
For more than 35 years, our thermal energy storage tanks have stored surplus heat and helped balance heat production and demand.
Today, they play a central role in supporting the electrification of district heating and the integration of renewable energy.
Thermal energy storage tanks for the district heating energy mix
District heating is becoming part of an increasingly flexible energy system.
New heat sources and the electrification of heat production are increasing the need for thermal energy storage – and for tanks that can function as a reliable part of the system’s infrastructure.
Since 1991, Steel Tank has delivered thermal energy storage tanks for district heating systems. Drawing on decades of experience, we engineer, manufacture and install complete tank solutions for customers in Denmark and abroad.
With Steel Tank, you have one partner throughout the project. We help define the requirements, develop the technical solution and manage the project from manufacturing and installation through to ongoing service and maintenance.
Our engineering, development and manufacturing teams are based at the same location in Esbjerg, keeping the distance between technical decisions and practical execution short.
Years of industry experience
Dedicated employees
Completed projects
Electrification is increasing the need for thermal energy storage
Electrification is a cornerstone of the transition to an energy system based on renewable energy. It is also changing the way heat is produced.
As district heating utilities introduce more heat sources – particularly electricity-based technologies – thermal energy storage becomes an increasingly important part of the overall infrastructure.
For district heating utilities, this creates greater operational flexibility. A thermal energy storage tank allows heat to be produced when energy can be used most efficiently and stored for later use.
This supports the efficient use of electricity-based heat production and makes it easier to manage an energy mix in which heat production and demand do not always follow the same pattern.
Thermal energy storage can also support more stable operating conditions. With the ability to store heat, utilities have a stronger basis for planning production, utilising available capacity and balancing different heat sources with demand and security of supply.
Tank performance depends on more than storage volume. The structure, insulation and technical documentation must work together to ensure that the tank remains an efficient and reliable part of the district heating system throughout its service life.
Effective stratification improves the use of storage capacity
Temperature stratification is essential to the efficient use of the heat stored in a thermal energy storage tank.
When the tank is designed correctly, hot water remains in the upper section, while colder return water is introduced with minimal mixing.
This provides district heating utilities with more stable operating conditions, better use of the available storage capacity and closer alignment between heat production, storage and demand.
At Steel Tank, stratification forms part of the technical assessment of every tank solution. We design the tank, connections and diffusers to support effective temperature stratification and ensure that the tank functions as an integrated part of the overall system.
For more complex projects, the solution can be supported by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. These provide a stronger basis for technical decisions and can document the interaction between flow conditions, temperature zones and expected tank performance before manufacturing and installation begin.
Responsibility from engineering to installation
A thermal energy storage tank is a central part of the district heating infrastructure and must operate reliably for many years.
That requires the technical design and practical execution to work together.
At Steel Tank, engineering, manufacturing and installation are closely connected. This allows us to clarify technical details at an early stage, manage project-specific adjustments efficiently and ensure that the solution can be built as intended.
We manufacture components at our own facilities before completing assembly and installation on site.
Throughout the project, we prepare the technical documentation required to give the asset owner, consultants and operations team a clear basis for understanding the tank’s design, performance and future maintenance requirements.
This provides one coordinated delivery – and a thermal energy storage tank engineered, manufactured and installed with responsibility for the complete solution.
Service throughout the lifetime of the tank system
A tank system must continue to operate reliably for many years.
Steel Tank provides inspection, maintenance and repairs for existing tank systems.
A structured service programme helps identify wear and emerging issues before they develop into major repairs or affect operations. This supports planned maintenance and extends the service life of the tank system.
Contact us about your district heating project
Are you planning a new thermal energy storage tank, expanding an existing system or looking for technical input on the right solution?
Contact our Technical Sales Manager, Michael Pedersen.