Sand batteries represent an emerging approach to energy storage, particularly effective in harnessing and retaining energy from intermittent sources like solar and wind.
The physical properties of sand, such as its ability to store heat at high temperatures, make it an excellent medium for energy retention. This capacity is being leveraged by innovative technologies to create a more stable and reliable energy supply, as sand can efficiently accumulate and release heat as required.
The science behind sand batteries involves heating sand to high temperatures using surplus energy generated from renewable sources. This stored heat can then be converted back into energy when needed.
As National Renewable Energy Laboratory''s (NREL) Patrick Davenport notes, "Sand and concrete silos with refractory insulation are very inexpensive materials that can lead to low-cost energy storage."
A few key players currently pioneering this technology include Polar Night Energy in Finland, which has implemented a sand battery for residential and commercial heating, and EnergyNest in Norway, which specializes in thermal energy storage using similar principles.
Using sand for energy storage offers multiple benefits: it is abundant, low-cost, eco-friendly, and can store heat for long periods. This makes sand an attractive option for enhancing the stability of renewable energy systems, and providing a reliable energy supply even during times of low sunlight or wind.
Sand battery technology is currently being tested and used in various projects worldwide, not only demonstrating the viability of sand as an energy storage solution but highlighting its potential scalability and integration into existing energy infrastructures.
Despite the potential, challenges remain. Developing and deploying sand battery technology on a large scale requires significant research and development efforts. So, the role of government and private investment is crucial in overcoming barriers and driving forward the innovation needed for the widespread adoption of this potentially game-changing battery technology.
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Tim Newcomb is a journalist based in the Pacific Northwest. He covers stadiums, sneakers, gear, infrastructure, and more for a variety of publications, including Popular Mechanics. His favorite interviews have included sit-downs with Roger Federer in Switzerland, Kobe Bryant in Los Angeles, and Tinker Hatfield in Portland.
Researchers in Finland installed the first fully-functioning "sand battery" that can store renewable energy for months. They believe it could solve the country''s year-round crisis in power supply, which is a major issue for green energy.
The team used low-grade sand that charges the devices with heat from cheap electricity coming from either solar or wind energy. The sand battery can store energy and heat up to 500 degrees Celsius, which can be used to warm homes during winter when electricity is more expensive, BBC News reported.
Finland relies on Russia for gas, but the war in Ukraine has drawn the issue of renewable energy into sharp focus. As the country decided to join NATO, Moscow decided to halt its gas and electricity supplies to Finland.
That exacerbated concerns over sources of heat and light, especially with the long cold Finnish winter on the horizon. Finnish scientists have found a way in the corner of a small power plant in western Finland where they installed a technology that can store energy for months. Its key elements include around 100 tons of builder''s sand piled high inside a dull gray silo.
These rough grains represent a cost-effective power storage system when needed the most, especially since there is a surge of investment in renewable energy production. Solar panels and wind turbines provide green power but also present challenges like most renewable energy.
Adding large-scale batteries that can store and balance energy demands while making the grid greener is essential. Batteries today are usually made up of lithium and are expensive. They also have large physical footprint. However, the world''s first sand battery installed in the town of Kankaanpää by young Finnish engineers is believed to be the answer to these concerns.
It was installed in the Vatajankoski power plant that runs the heating system for the houses in the area. It works by heating the sand, circulating the heat generated in the sand using a heat exchanger.
It is a cost-effective method because when the battery discharges the hot air, it warms the water for the district heating system that is pumped around homes, offices, and the local swimming pool.
Using sand to store energy has indeed caught the attention of scientists for many years. Even the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is actively researching the viable sand to make a battery for green power.
Besides, there have been studies in the past years about using sand-based batteries that could last longer than conventional ones. According to a 2014 study published in Scientific Reports, researchers extracted silicon using quartz-rich sand to create a battery that lasts three times longer than lithium-ion batteries.
They created a coin-sized battery that uses silicon at its anode (negative side) instead of the over-used graphite, ZME Science reported. UC Riverside graduate student Zachary Favors said he drew inspiration from the beach sand during a vacation. He found a quartz-rich site at the Cedar Creek Reservoir in Texas and took some samples to study them.
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