Freethink
Summary
A Finnish startup has announced plans to build a massive sand battery — demonstrating the potential of the medium to help the world fully transition to clean energy.
Instead of storing renewable energy in traditional batteries, Finish startup Polar Night Energy has developed a system for storing it as heat in sand, which can handle temperatures in excess of 1832 F (1000 C).
Polar uses insulated containers to hold the sand, keeping it hot for months. The heat can be tapped on demand for district heating systems, which deliver hot air or water directly into people’s homes. The heat can be used to boil water to spin electricity-generating turbines, too, but the conversion process results in a major loss of energy, meaning it’s less efficient.
Continue Reading
#News#DistrictHeating