Abstract Alternative low cost materials are evaluated through the valorization of by-products derived from mining and metallurgical industry for solid sensible heat based energy storage systems. They were used either as received or formulated as aggregates in mortars, and their thermal and mechanical properties were characterized. A selection methodology was applied in order to compare them with available materials found in the literature for applications as (STES) materials, and with materials from Cambridge Educational Software (CES) Selector database. It was demonstrated that these recycled materials have a high potential for these thermal energy storage applications.