The Future of Energy Storage: The Sand Battery

🔋The world's first commercial sand battery went live in Finland, offering a new solution for energy storage.

💡Sensible heat storage is currently one of the most widespread thermal energy storage solutions.

🏭Thermal energy storage can help reduce emissions from heating and industrial processes.

💰Thermal energy storage can save costs by storing excess renewable energy for use during high demand periods.

🌍Sand-based heat batteries offer simplicity, scalability, and environmental benefits compared to chemical storage solutions.

How does the sand battery work?

—The sand battery converts excess solar and wind-produced electricity into heat, which is stored in a steel silo filled with low-grade sand. The heat can then be used for various purposes like heating buildings or powering industrial processes.

What are the advantages of sand-based heat batteries?

—Sand-based heat batteries are simple, scalable, and environmentally friendly. They use readily available materials and components, have a long lifespan, and can store more energy per unit of volume compared to water-based solutions.

Can sand batteries replace other forms of energy storage?

—Sand batteries are a complementary solution to other storage technologies. They are particularly suitable for district heating areas and can be used in combination with chemical and thermal storage solutions to decarbonize power infrastructure.

What is the cost of sand-based heat batteries?

—The cost of sand-based heat batteries is expected to decrease as the technology scales up. The current estimate is around 10 euros per kWh, which is in line with the target cost for new thermal energy storage systems.

What are the potential applications of sand-based heat batteries?

—Sand-based heat batteries can be used for district heating, industrial processes, and replacing natural gas-fueled boilers. They are most beneficial in areas with existing infrastructure for steam plants and district heating.

00:00The world's first commercial sand battery offers a solution for energy storage.

03:22The sand battery converts excess solar and wind-produced electricity into heat.

06:09Sand-based heat batteries are simple, scalable, and environmentally friendly.

08:09Sand batteries can store more energy per unit of volume compared to water-based solutions.

10:06The cost of sand-based heat batteries is expected to decrease as the technology scales up.