Articles tagged with "thermal-energy-storage"
New wood-based material stores and releases heat without electricity
Researchers at the University of Texas have developed an innovative wood-based material that regulates building temperatures without electricity by using phase-change technology (PCM). This material acts as a thermal battery, absorbing heat during the day and releasing it at night, thereby reducing reliance on active heating and cooling systems and enhancing energy efficiency. Unlike traditional PCMs that tend to leak during phase transitions, this new composite leverages the natural porous cellular structure of wood. By removing lignin and saturating the cellulose skeleton with a blend of phase-change material and a stabilizing soft plastic, the team created a leak-proof, structurally reinforced material that maintains its integrity over repeated heating and cooling cycles. Lab tests demonstrated that the material could endure 1,000 thermal cycles without leakage or loss of mechanical strength, making it both energy efficient and durable for long-term building applications. This breakthrough addresses a key limitation of previous PCM implementations, where host materials diluted heat storage capacity and compromised performance. The interdisciplinary collaboration involving national laboratories and universities underscores the potential for
energymaterialsphase-change-technologythermal-energy-storagewood-based-materialsenergy-efficiencysustainable-building-materialsNew 'sand-in-motion' battery offers 10x more heat transfer efficiency
Finnish cleantech startup TheStorage has launched its first industrial-scale thermal energy system at a brewery in January 2026, marking a significant advancement in industrial heat production. The system converts renewable electricity into heat stored in sand, which can then be used on demand for industrial processes. This "sand-in-motion" technology achieves up to 10 times higher heat transfer efficiency compared to traditional static storage methods, enabling energy cost reductions of up to 70% and carbon emission cuts of up to 90% for manufacturing facilities. The system is scalable, with storage capacities from 20 to 500 MWh and charging power between 1 to 20 MW, addressing the heavy-duty heat demands of various industries. The technology tackles a critical global issue, as industrial heat accounts for 20% of global energy use, with 80% currently derived from fossil fuels. By using cheap, abundant renewable electricity to heat sand to temperatures up to 800°C, the system stores thermal energy efficiently and delivers it
energyrenewable-energythermal-energy-storageindustrial-heatdecarbonizationcleantechenergy-efficiencySeafood waste carbon aerogel stops heat leakage, keeps 97% capacity
Materials scientists have developed a sustainable, bio-based carbon aerogel derived from chitin—a natural polymer found in crustacean shells and fungi—that effectively addresses the common problem of leakage in organic phase change materials (PCMs) used for thermal energy storage. By converting chitin into an ultralight, porous carbon framework, the researchers created a host structure that physically traps molten stearic acid, a widely used PCM known for its high heat storage capacity but prone to leakage when melted. The aerogel’s interconnected pores, along with capillary forces and hydrogen bonding, prevent leakage even when the stearic acid transitions from solid to liquid, allowing the composite to hold up to 60% stearic acid by weight without visible leakage. Thermal tests demonstrated that the composite material achieves a melting enthalpy of approximately 118 joules per gram, surpassing many other biomass-derived PCMs, while also improving thermal conductivity for efficient heat transfer. Importantly, the material showed excellent durability, retaining
materialscarbon-aerogelphase-change-materialsthermal-energy-storagebio-based-materialssustainable-materialsenergy-storageNLR Analysis Identifies Reservoir Thermal Energy Storage as a Solution for Data Center Cooling Needs - CleanTechnica
A recent study by researchers at the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) presents reservoir thermal energy storage (RTES) as an innovative and efficient solution for data center cooling, addressing the growing electricity consumption driven by AI, cloud computing, and data processing. RTES works by storing cold energy underground during cooler periods using equipment like dry coolers or chillers, then pumping this cold water back up during peak-demand times (typically summer) to cool data centers via heat exchangers. The warmed water is returned underground to a designated "hot well" and recharged during the next cold cycle, creating a balanced, reliable cooling system that reduces energy costs and grid stress. The system leverages brackish or saline aquifers at depths of up to about a kilometer, which are ideal for long-term thermal storage due to their stability and containment. The study modeled two RTES cooling scenarios over 20 years, both using dry coolers that provide "free cooling" without water consumption or energy-intensive refrigeration
energythermal-energy-storagedata-center-coolingreservoir-thermal-energy-storageenergy-efficiencysustainable-coolingenergy-consumption-reductionEnergy Storage Exists, & It's Coming For Your Fossil Fuels - CleanTechnica
The article from CleanTechnica highlights the growing role of energy storage technologies, particularly concentrating solar power (CSP) combined with thermal energy storage, in displacing fossil fuels across various sectors. Despite skepticism from some political figures, batteries and advanced energy storage systems are increasingly replacing fossil fuels not only in vehicles and power generation but also in challenging commercial and industrial applications that require consistent, round-the-clock energy supply. CSP systems, which use mirrors (heliostats) to concentrate sunlight onto a receiver that heats a transfer medium, can store thermal energy for use even after sunset, enabling continuous clean power generation or industrial heat supply. While CSP faced setbacks in the U.S. during the early 2000s, it has gained traction globally and continues to receive intermittent support from the U.S. Department of Energy across multiple administrations. A notable innovator in this space is the U.S. startup 247Solar, which has developed a hybrid heat-plus-power system integrating CSP with a heat-storing battery. This
energy-storageconcentrating-solar-powerthermal-energy-storagerenewable-energyclean-energybatteriessolar-power3 Startups Join New IN2 Cohort Advancing Reliability in Built Environment - CleanTechnica
The Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN2), a $55 million energy technology program coadministered by NREL and funded by Wells Fargo, has welcomed three startups into its latest cohort focused on advancing energy efficiency and reliability in commercial building heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. The selected startups—MicroEra Power, SkyCool Systems, and Verv Energy—offer innovative solutions such as a tunable thermal energy storage system, passive cooling technologies utilizing the sky, and diagnostic platforms for detecting HVAC performance anomalies. IN2 aims to accelerate the scaling and market adoption of technologies that support sustained building operations during grid outages, peak load events, and extreme weather, addressing growing electricity demand from sectors like data centers. MicroEra Power’s thermal energy storage system stands out for its safety, efficiency, and durability compared to lithium-ion batteries. It shifts HVAC loads to off-peak periods, improving energy efficiency by 20% while requiring minimal water and reducing capital expenses by downsizing heat pumps
energy-efficiencythermal-energy-storageHVAC-optimizationsmart-gridbuilding-energy-managementenergy-technology-startupsgrid-reliabilitySam Atlman-backed Exowatt wants to power AI data centers with billions of hot rocks
Exowatt, backed by Sam Altman and Andreessen Horowitz, aims to revolutionize energy supply for AI data centers by delivering ultra-low-cost, round-the-clock solar power at a target price of one cent per kilowatt-hour. The company’s core technology repackages concentrated solar power (CSP), also known as thermal solar power, which uses sunlight to heat special bricks inside shipping container-sized units called P3 devices. These bricks store thermal energy that can be converted into electricity via Stirling engines, enabling continuous power generation even when the sun isn’t shining. Each thermal battery can retain heat for up to five days, and multiple units can be combined to scale output according to demand. Exowatt has raised an additional $50 million in an extension to its $70 million Series A round, led by MVP Ventures and 8090 Industries, reflecting strong market interest and momentum. The company currently has a backlog of about 10 million P3 units, representing 90 gigawatt-hours of
energysolar-powerthermal-energy-storageconcentrated-solar-powerrenewable-energyenergy-storage-materialsdata-centers-energy-solutions'World's largest' industrial heat battery runs purely on solar energy
Rondo Energy has launched what it calls the world’s largest industrial heat battery, a 100 MWh system now operational at a Holmes Western Oil facility in California. Powered entirely by an onsite solar array, the Rondo Heat Battery stores solar energy during the day and delivers continuous high-temperature heat (above 1,000 °C or 1,832 °F) around the clock, replacing natural gas in industrial processes. Over a 10-week test, it achieved over 97% round-trip efficiency and produces as much heat as 10,000 household heating systems. The system integrates seamlessly with existing gas-fired boilers and steam infrastructure without requiring modifications, enabling industries to reduce carbon emissions and exposure to volatile energy costs. The technology relies on simple, widely available materials—bricks and wires—to store thermal energy, avoiding rare minerals, fire risks, and toxic leaks common in other energy storage methods. It charges for about six hours daily using low-cost or off-grid solar power and then supplies continuous heat
energyrenewable-energyindustrial-heat-batterysolar-powerdecarbonizationthermal-energy-storageclean-technologyWhy Molten Salt Won’t Be the Future of Industrial Heat Storage - CleanTechnica
The article from CleanTechnica examines the limitations of molten salt as a medium for industrial heat storage, despite its historical prominence and technical appeal. Molten salt, typically a mixture of sodium and potassium nitrate, has been used since the 1980s in concentrated solar power plants due to its high heat capacity, density, and wide liquid temperature range. Large-scale projects like Crescent Dunes in Nevada and Noor III in Morocco demonstrated molten salt's ability to store and dispatch solar heat, with Gemasolar in Spain achieving continuous 24-hour operation. This track record established molten salt as a credible technology for dispatchable solar electricity and industrial heat storage. However, the article highlights several critical drawbacks that limit molten salt's future role. The fundamental issue is its low round-trip efficiency for electricity storage, typically only 40-45%, due to significant losses when converting stored heat back into electricity via steam Rankine or advanced turbine cycles. This efficiency is far below that of lithium-ion batteries (over 85%)
energythermal-energy-storagemolten-saltsolar-powerindustrial-heat-storagerenewable-energyenergy-efficiencyNew Long Duration Energy Storage Kisses Fossil Fuels Goodbye
The article highlights the promising advancements in long-duration energy storage as a critical component of the renewable energy transition in the United States. Despite shifts in federal energy policy, investors remain committed to next-generation solutions to address climate challenges, exemplified by the US startup Fourth Power securing $20 million to commercialize its innovative thermal energy storage system. Current dominant long-duration storage technologies, such as pumped hydro and compressed air, face geographic and resource limitations, while utility-scale lithium-ion batteries, though flexible, lack the capacity for extended energy discharge beyond several hours. Fourth Power’s approach leverages a novel thermal storage method using melted tin as a heat transfer medium to store electricity-sourced heat in carbon blocks, which can then be converted back into electricity. This system operates at very high temperatures (up to 2400°C) and promises to be up to ten times cheaper than conventional lithium-ion batteries due to the use of abundant, low-cost materials and a proprietary high-temperature liquid metal heat transfer technique. With recent Series A
energy-storagerenewable-energythermal-energy-storagelong-duration-batteriesFourth-Powerclean-energyenergy-transitionNew tech may help ice batteries cut cooling energy use in big cities
Researchers at Texas A&M University, led by Dr. Patrick Shamberger, are advancing "ice battery" technology to improve energy efficiency in heating and cooling large buildings. Ice batteries store thermal energy by freezing water or similar materials at night when electricity demand and costs are low, then release the stored cold during the day to cool buildings. This approach reduces daytime electricity demand, easing stress on the power grid and lowering consumer costs. However, current systems require significant nighttime power and their efficiency heavily depends on the materials used, which must be stable, reversible, and durable over decades. The research focuses on optimizing materials such as salt hydrates—salts containing water molecules in their crystal structures—that can absorb and release thermal energy effectively. By tailoring these materials to operate at temperatures compatible with advanced HVAC and heat pump systems, the ice batteries can better integrate with building energy needs and support flexible energy use. A key challenge is preventing phase segregation, where materials separate into different phases during cycling, which degrades performance.
energyice-batterythermal-energy-storagematerials-scienceHVAC-systemssalt-hydratesenergy-efficiencyUS firm to build 3,275°F brick battery to cut steel, cement emissions
Electrified Thermal Solutions, a Boston-based MIT spinout, has partnered with HarbisonWalker International (HWI), a leading U.S. refractory materials supplier, to manufacture electrically conductive firebricks called E-bricks. These E-bricks are integral to Electrified Thermal’s Joule Hive Thermal Battery, a system that converts renewable electricity into and stores heat at extremely high temperatures—up to 3,275°F (1,800°C). This heat level is sufficient to power energy-intensive industrial processes such as steel, cement, and glass manufacturing, which traditionally depend on fossil fuels. By producing E-bricks at HWI’s existing U.S. plants, the partnership leverages established supply chains and infrastructure, enabling rapid scaling without the need for new manufacturing facilities. The Joule Hive system addresses a critical challenge in decarbonizing heavy industry: generating high-temperature heat without fossil fuels. Using solid-state components, the system stores and releases extreme heat electrically, offering a cleaner alternative to burning
energythermal-energy-storagebrick-batterydecarbonizationindustrial-heatrenewable-energyhigh-temperature-materialsEurope: World's largest sand battery goes live, cuts 70% CO2 emissions
The world’s largest industrial-scale sand battery has become fully operational in Pornainen, Finland, developed by startup Polar Night Energy for the local district heating company Loviisan Lämpö. This innovative thermal energy storage system uses 2,000 tons of crushed soapstone to store surplus renewable electricity as heat, delivering one megawatt of thermal power with a 100 megawatt-hour capacity. The sand battery can cover nearly a month’s heating demand in summer and up to a week in winter, supplying heat to municipal buildings and homes while significantly reducing reliance on fossil fuels. The installation is expected to cut Pornainen’s district heating CO2 emissions by nearly 70%, equivalent to about 160 tons annually, by eliminating oil use and reducing wood chip consumption by 60%. A biomass boiler remains as backup for peak demand periods. Beyond heat storage, the sand battery supports grid balancing by optimizing energy use based on electricity prices and reserve markets managed by Finland’s grid operator Fingrid, with digital services provided
energyrenewable-energythermal-energy-storagesand-batterydistrict-heatingclean-energyenergy-transitionFinland warms up the world’s largest sand battery, and the economics look appealing
Finland has recently activated the world’s largest sand-based thermal energy storage system, located in the town of Pornainen. This “sand battery” stores heat by using electricity—primarily from renewable sources—to warm 2,000 metric tons of pulverized soapstone contained within an insulated silo. The stored heat, which can reach temperatures up to 400 degrees Celsius, is used to supply the town’s district heating network, significantly reducing reliance on oil and wood chips. The system can store 1,000 megawatt-hours of heat for weeks, covering about a week’s heating needs during the Finnish winter, with only 10-15% heat loss during storage and recovery. The economics of the sand battery are attractive due to the low cost of raw materials—soapstone discarded from a fireplace manufacturer—and the relatively simple infrastructure. The battery allows the town to draw electricity when prices are lowest, benefiting from Finland’s clean and affordable grid, which is powered 43% by renewables and
energythermal-energy-storagesand-batteryrenewable-energydistrict-heatingcarbon-emissions-reductionFinland-energy-innovationShapeshifting perovskites can help make solar devices, LEDs more efficient
Researchers from the University of Utah have demonstrated that wafer-thin Ruddlesden-Popper (RP) metal-halide hybrid perovskites, a class of two-dimensional layered materials composed of alternating inorganic and organic sheets, exhibit temperature-dependent phase transitions that significantly influence their optical properties. These phase transitions, akin to changes between different solid states as seen in water, alter the structure of the inorganic layers through the melting and disordering of organic chains, thereby modulating the material’s light emission wavelength and intensity. This dynamic tunability enables the emission wavelength to be adjusted across a broad spectrum from ultraviolet to near-infrared, offering valuable control for optoelectronic applications such as LEDs and thermal energy storage. The study highlights that these perovskites’ optical properties shift continuously with temperature due to subtle structural distortions, revealing a strong interplay between organic and inorganic components that can be manipulated at the molecular level. Importantly, perovskites present a promising alternative to traditional silicon in solar cell
perovskitesmaterials-sciencerenewable-energysolar-technologyLEDsthermal-energy-storageoptoelectronicsNext-gen nuclear reactors rely on solar salts for better heat control
energynuclear-reactorsthermal-energy-storagemolten-saltsadvanced-materialsradiation-resistancereactor-safety