Super hot sand could help us store renewable energy

and New Orleans have independently set timelines for net zero emissions by 2050 as well.

For decarbonization to work, it’ll mean building in energy storage so that grids are functional when renewable sources aren’t readily available. Doing so will mean expanding lithium battery storage for renewable sources like wind or solar energy. Thankfully, that technology is becoming more and more accessible. According to, the country saw a record 1.2 gigawatts of battery storage installed in 2020.

But there are challenges to decarbonizing different parts of an economy, especially when everything from residential buildings to businesses need energy storage that lasts longer and at lower costs to avoid sliding back to fossil fuels to power their utilities.To meet that challenge, researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory are testing new thermal energy storage technology that uses inexpensive silica sand as a medium.

“While decarbonization of electricity has a clear path, decarbonization of the whole economy―which includes things like building heat and industrial processes―is more challenging because natural gas is very cheap, making it hard to displace,”The system works when the silica sand, which has a high potential for, is gravity fed through a heater that can reach a staggering 1,200° Celsius. Once toasted, the particles are fed into insulated silos made of concrete for days of storage.

The size of the silos can be scaled up or down according to the energy needed. The entire system can be hooked up to an existing grid, or be placed in a decommissioned coal or gas plant. Researchers explained that the stored thermal energy can be discharged during peak electricity usage when wind and solar power are limited, such as in the early morning or evenings when people are more likely to be at home and using multiple appliances at one time.

Isn’t this the same thing the Swedes are doing?

Me reading the second paragraph:

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