Thermal energy storage integration with nuclear power: A critical review

The increasing adoption of intermittent power from renewable sources necessitates enhanced flexibility from conventional power plants. This is essential to accommodate the fluctuating output of renewable sources while ensuring the security of the energy supply. In the present scenario, the integration of thermal energy storage systems (TES) with nuclear reactors holds the potential to enhance the uninterrupted and efficient functioning of nuclear power plants. However, TES systems face major barriers to investment since more knowledge of their systems' compatibility and performance indicators is needed to assess their benefits and the challenges associated with their integration with Nuclear Power Plants (NPP). The study provides a comprehensive overview of the advancements made in the domain of NPP for TES integration. Moreover, the present literature effectively elucidates the outcomes and challenges associated with the advancement of nuclear/TES technologies. This study also examines several investigations on hybrid nuclear/TES systems, which involve the integration of renewable and nuclear energy sources with TES. These investigations emphasize the approach of maximizing the utilization of renewable sources and improving their practicality. Significant advancements have been observed with the integration of Energy storage systems (ESS) with NPP (or hybrid NPPs). These improvements include several kinds of benefits, such as increased flexibility, enhanced overall efficiency, improved safety, and increased cost-effectiveness.