Architect
Summary
It has been suggested that we live in the Age of the Battery. The proliferation of renewable power and the inherent need for energy storage, in addition to the increasing use of mobile electronics and electric vehicles, have motivated advances in battery technologies. The current standard is lithium-ion technology, the widespread energy storage medium powering most mobile phones and hybrid cars. Although Li-ion has impressive storage and recharging capacities, increasing demand for lithium has led to environmental concerns and geopolitical tensions. As a result, industries are looking for alternative substances that can replace or augment Li-ion technology. A surprising area of focus is building materials.
Inexpensive, mineral-based substances often used in construction have recently gained attention as thermal energy storage solutions. As the name implies, TES systems store heat and release it over time, helping to offset energy supply and demand. An established approach seen in solar thermal technologies and district heating systems, TES systems are increasing in popularity because they are cheaper than electricity storage, lack the problems associated with Li-ion, and have the potential to play a critical role in realizing a clean energy economy. From an architectural perspective, TES is essentially thermal mass. The same capacity of materials like brick and stone to store and delay heat dissipation, thus offsetting peak temperatures, enables such materials to function as thermal batteries.
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