This extended abstract presents a summary of research work undertaken in the Laboratory of Applied Multiphase Thermal Engineering (LAMTE) at Dalhousie University done specifically on the " rate problem " encountered in phase change thermal storage system (TES). Some of the work performed is experimental leading to better understanding of the scale and strength of natural convection in the liquid melt and scaling laws for conduction limited systems. The remaining work being numerical/theoretical and looking at enhanced model development to facilitate design of TES to achieve proper energy transfer rates. All the work done previously points to geometric design solutions being more advantageous over the use of nano-enhanced PCMs.