  The unavoidable interaction of a quantum system with its surrounding (bath)
is not always detrimental for quantum properties. For instance, under some
specific conditions (that we identify as indistinguishability), a many-body
system can gain internal coherences thanks to the interaction with its bath.
The most famous consequence of this phenomenon is superradiance. Beyond that,
the thermodynamic effects on the system of these bath-induced coherences have
been mostly unexplored. We show here, for a simple and common system (a pair of
two-level systems), that the energetic and entropic impacts can indeed be
dramatic and diverse, including amplification of the action of the bath but
also its mitigation. Our results can be tested experimentally. They suggest
that bath-induced coherences can be harnessed to enhance thermodynamic tasks,
opening up interesting perspectives for thermal machines, quantum battery
charging, natural or artificial energy harvesting systems, and state
preparation and protection.
