The team discovered that volcanic ash demonstrates superb thermal conductivity and heat capacity, remaining barely oxidized even after numerous cycles.Researchers at a leading university in Europe have found a highly attractive use for volcanic ash as an energy storage medium for renewable energy.
In 2021, a volcano erupted on La Palma in the Canary Islands, dumping 7.6 billion cubic feet of rock and ash waste. Among this debris, the researchers at the University of Barcelona saw an opportunity to explore using volcanic ash as an Using this approach, it is easy to generate temperatures exceeding 1,800 Fahrenheit , which can then be used to heat water and rotate a turbine to generate electricity.
The challenge lies in the fact that these molten salts possess high corrosiveness, leading to significant harm to the pipes and tanks in which they are stored. A leak at the world’s largest CSP in Morocco caused damages worth US$47 million and temporarily shut the plant down until November of this year.The University of Barcelona researchers suggest mixing volcanic ash with molten salts can help prevent such corrosion events.