From Conversations to Solutions:
What HYSTORE Stakeholders Told Us

How can thermal energy storage technologies become not only technically effective, but also socially accepted and widely adopted? Within HYSTORE, participatory workshops across three European pilot sites have helped identify the main barriers and expectations related to TES solutions.

This article presents the results of the stakeholder engagement activities carried out within HYSTORE and led by the CNR Institute of Advanced Technologies for Energy “Nicola Giordano” (ITAE), which is responsible for the Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) dimension of the project.

HYSTORE is developing new thermal energy storage (TES) technologies that can transform the way people experience and manage energy consumption in their homes and tertiary buildings. However, technical innovation alone is not enough: even the most promising technology may face resistance if it is perceived as complex, of limited benefit, or difficult to integrate into everyday routines.

For this reason, alongside prototype development, HYSTORE has launched a dedicated pathway focused on the social dimensions of innovation. The objective is clear: to understand which conditions make these solutions acceptable and desirable for those who will install, use, or authorise them. In other words, to turn stakeholder expectations, doubts, and perceived barriers into concrete inputs for design and engineering.

The project, therefore, organised a series of participatory meetings across the European pilot sites where TES technologies are being tested. Building on the World Café methodology—adapted to the organisational needs of each site—the process prioritised open and informal dialogue based on mutual learning.

People with both technical and non-technical backgrounds were considered equally capable of contributing to the development of the technology. Co-creation was not treated as an “additional” activity, but as a key step to improve product quality and accelerate adoption.

Three Cities, Three Conversations

The meetings took place in three of the project’s four demonstration sites: Dublin (Ireland), Langenwang (Austria), and Montserrat (Spain).

Each workshop had its own format: an online event with international experts in Dublin, an in-person meeting with students and potential users in Austria, and a World Café session involving technical and non-technical stakeholders in Spain. In total, more than forty participants contributed to the discussions.

The sessions were recorded and analysed using qualitative research tools, resulting in a detailed map of concerns, expectations, and suggestions. The key themes identified fall into five main areas: technical, environmental, regulatory, economic, and usability.

The Economic Challenge: Costs as a Barrier

Among all the barriers identified, economic concerns were the most widespread. Across all three sites, participants pointed to the initial installation cost as the main obstacle to TES adoption. It is not only the upfront expense that matters: uncertainty about medium- and long-term return on investment is perceived as a significant risk, particularly for households and small communities.

Proposed solutions included public incentives (direct funding, tax benefits, support schemes for replacing existing heating systems), but also smarter tariff mechanisms. In particular, discussions highlighted time-of-use (TOU) tariffs—where electricity prices vary depending on the time of day—and demand response applications, which allow energy to be stored during low-cost periods and used during peak demand. Both approaches could help make the economic value of thermal storage more tangible.

Usability: Technology Must Be Understandable Before It Is High-Performing

The second cross-cutting theme concerns perceived ease of use. Even technically skilled participants emphasised that new technologies must be understandable and manageable in everyday life. The key question is not only “Does it work?” but also “Can I understand it and use it without excessive effort?”

The workshops revealed concrete needs: clear explanations of how TES solutions compare with familiar systems (such as conventional boilers or electric batteries), precise information on potential building modifications, and more accessible communication about intended use cases.

In Montserrat, for example, several participants perceived the technology as more suitable for office environments than for industrial applications—an insight that can guide both technical development and communication strategies.

Unclear Rules and Excessive Bureaucracy

Regulatory barriers emerged as a recurring theme, particularly in Dublin and Montserrat. The European regulatory framework for thermal energy storage is still perceived as fragmented and difficult to interpret. Participants highlighted the need for clearer and comparable energy certification schemes, harmonised safety standards, and better alignment with recognised frameworks such as LEED and BREEAM. Long-term guarantees were also mentioned as an important trust-building element.

Environmental and Technical Considerations: Attention to Detail

On the environmental side—especially in Austria—participants stressed the importance of assessing material toxicity, understanding waste generated during manufacturing, and ensuring that technologies maintain a low carbon footprint throughout their lifecycle.

From a technical perspective, discussions pointed to the need for easier integration into existing buildings, improved temperature management, and clear, sustainable maintenance strategies. Practical aspects, such as size and weight, were also highlighted as critical factors for transitioning from prototype to real-world adoption.

Listening That Shapes Design

The voices collected—from building users, managers, researchers, and practitioners—are now feeding directly into the HYSTORE development process as operational inputs. The value of this work lies not only in listening but in translating insights into traceable design requirements.

HYSTORE has therefore defined a workflow linking workshop discussions to technical requirements (both mandatory and recommended), integrating them into development tools and validating them with representative stakeholder groups. The outcome is a set of guidelines designed to reduce perceived barriers while enhancing trust, clarity, and ease of use.

In HYSTORE, innovation is not only technological. It is also about designing solutions that function in the real world—within economic, regulatory, and social constraints. And this is the decisive step toward making thermal energy storage a practical lever for the energy transition.