fossil fuel-based technologies providing nearly 81% of the global primary energy supply as of 2024. However, their dependence on finite resources and low conversion efficiencies, often below 40% in conventional steam power plants, has led to significant greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, accounting for over 35% of global CO2 output.
This sets a strong motivation for the study. Citing both the dominance and inefficiency of current TES emphasizes the scale of the challenge. The contrast between large energy dependence and low efficiency provides a compelling justification for innovations in cleaner TES technologies.