CEN and HYSTORE Workshop: Bringing Fresh Energy to Thermal Energy Storage

CEN CENELEC & HYSTORE for Thermal energy solution ontology - workshop

The CEN Workshop on Thermal Energy Storage (TES) Systems kicked off with a lively meeting on June 6, 2025, bringing together experts, innovators, and enthusiasts from across Europe. Chaired by Prof. Eleni Mangina from University College Dublin and supported by the Spanish Association for Standardization (UNE), the workshop is all about making TES systems smarter, simpler, and more accessible for everyone.

What’s CEN, and Why Does It Matter?

CEN (the European Committee for Standardization) is one of Europe’s main standardization organizations, working alongside CENELEC and ETSI. Their mission is to help create voluntary standards that make life easier for businesses, researchers, and consumers alike. These standards help ensure products and services are safe, high-quality, and compatible across borders—think of them as the “common language” for innovation in Europe.

CEN Workshops are a particularly flexible and open way for people from different backgrounds—companies, universities, and more—to come together and develop new guidelines or best practices. The results, called CEN Workshop Agreements (CWAs), are designed to be practical, easy to use, and ready to support fast-moving fields like TES.

How the Workshop Works

The TES Workshop isn’t just a one-off event—it’s a working group that will collaborate over several months. The team will develop a CWA focused on the latest challenges and solutions in TES, with plenty of opportunities for input and feedback from anyone interested. 

All you need to do to join is fill out a quick registration form—everyone’s welcome, whether you’re a seasoned engineer or just curious about energy storage.

The first workshop is on September 12th at 10:00 CET.

Register here

The kick-off meeting covered everything from electing the chair and secretary to outlining the project plan and setting up the technical work. There’s a big emphasis on transparency and consensus, so everyone’s voice can be heard.

Spotlight on HYSTORE: Tackling TES Challenges Together

 The HYSTORE project, funded by Horizon Europe, is at the heart of this workshop. HYSTORE is all about overcoming the hurdles that have held TES back:

  • Complexity: Right now, TES systems often need to be custom-designed for each building, which can be time-consuming and expensive.

  • Installation Know-How: There aren’t enough clear guidelines or trained installers, making it tough to roll out TES on a large scale.

  • Cost: TES needs to become more competitive with other energy solutions.

  • Integration: TES is often seen as an “add-on” rather than a core part of building and grid systems2.

HYSTORE’s Smart Solution: Making TES Talk to Everything

One of the coolest things about HYSTORE is its focus on making TES systems smarter and more connected. The project is developing an IoT-based ontology (think of it as a smart dictionary and rulebook) that lets TES systems “talk” to building energy management systems, grids, and even other devices. Built on the SAREF ontology, this platform uses AI and advanced reasoning to help TES systems make better decisions in real time.

This approach isn’t just about technology—it’s about making TES easier to use, more reliable, and ready for the future of smart buildings and communities. The HYSTORE team has reviewed hundreds of studies and is building tools that will help everyone from researchers to building managers get the most out of TES.

What’s Next?

The main goal of the workshop is to produce a CEN Workshop Agreement that will serve as a practical guide for designing, installing, and integrating TES systems. There will be an open consultation phase, so anyone can review and comment on the draft before it’s finalized. The finished CWA will be valid for three years, with the option to update or revise it as the field evolves.

Wrapping Up

The CEN and HYSTORE Workshop is more than just a meeting—it’s a collaborative journey to make thermal energy storage a bigger, smarter part of Europe’s energy future. By bringing together technical know-how, real-world experience, and fresh ideas, the team is paving the way for TES systems that are easier to use, more affordable, and ready to help us all build a greener tomorrow