The thermal energy storage technology is one of the key technologies in the fields of solar thermal power generation and combined heat and power generation

which applies the thermal energy storage material as the working medium and stores the solar thermal energy

the industrial waste heat and other low-grade thermal energy. The stored energy will be released and utilized when needed. The main purpose of applying the thermal energy storage technology is to solve the mismatch problems between the energy supply and the energy requirement. This paper introduces the classification and characteristics of the thermal energy storage technology

analyzes the research progress of thermal energy storage technology in the fields of both solar thermal power generation and combined heat and power generation

and outlooks the development trend of the thermal energy storage technology in the future. The analysis results show that the thermal energy storage technology is beneficial to improve both the thermodynamic performance and economic performance of the solar thermal power generation system and combined heat and power generation system

and has a wider application prospect in the future.