District Energy & Thermal Network Equipment worked example

Thermal Storage Size with usable storage discharge capacity of 30 kW: a worked example

This scenario runs the thermal storage size calculation on the strong side: usable storage discharge capacity of 30 kW, with every other input held at its documented default. Use it when thermal storage size in district energy and thermal network equipment is being quoted and energy is a real chunk of the district energy and thermal network equipment cost stack.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Usable storage discharge capacity: 30 kW (raised for this scenario; the documented default is 12)
  • Storage discharge duration: 8 hr (unchanged)
  • Stored energy value: 0.12 $ / kWh (unchanged)
  • Storage volume or number of tanks: 1,000 m³, gal, or tanks (unchanged)

Working through the calculation

  • Applying the documented formula (Usable thermal storage energy = usable storage discharge capacity × storage discharge duration) to the inputs above produces each figure below.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 240 kWh for usable thermal storage energy, the number this scenario is built around.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 28.8 $ for value of usable stored energy.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 0.03 $ / piece for stored energy value per volume or tank.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 3.6 $ / hr for hourly storage discharge value.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where usable storage discharge capacity sits at 12 kW and the headline result is 96 kWh, this scenario comes in 150% above the baseline at 240 kWh.
  • Use it when sizing buffer or load-shifting thermal storage and you need delivered kWh plus the economic value per unit of storage volume. Treat this as a target state: the delta against the baseline quantifies what the improvement is worth before you commit to chasing it.

Results at a glance

  • Usable thermal storage energy: 240 kWh (headline result)
  • Value of usable stored energy: 28.8 $
  • Stored energy value per volume or tank: 0.03 $ / piece
  • Hourly storage discharge value: 3.6 $ / hr

Run it with your numbers

  • Every input above is editable in the live Thermal Storage Size calculator, which recalculates instantly and can be shared with the inputs intact.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.