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We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work.
The concept of a "sand battery" may seem unusual, but most recent experiments with cheap materials led to a super-simple (and cheap!) storage medium for excess heat harnessed from solar power.
In this article, we will explore the potential advantages and disadvantages of using sand as a battery material, as well as how to make a DIY sand battery - also known as the "climate battery".
1. Low cost: One of the main advantages of using sand as a battery material is its low cost. Sand is abundant and inexpensive, making it an attractive option for large-scale energy storage.
2. High energy density: Another advantage of sand batteries is their high energy density. By using advanced materials and techniques, scientists have been able to achieve energy storage densities that are comparable to those of traditional batteries.
3. Long lifespan: Sand batteries have a long lifespan, and have been shown to have a longer cycle life than traditional batteries due to the porous nature of the silicon in sand, which allows for charge/discharge cycles without loss of capacity.
4. Safe and non-toxic: Sand batteries are also considered to be safe and non-toxic, which is an important consideration when thinking about large-scale energy storage.
5. Low-temperature proof: Sand, unlike other medium such as water, will not freeze even under extremely low temperatures.
Low power density: Another disadvantage of sand batteries is their low power density, compared to other battery technologies.
Complex manufacturing process: The process of creating sand batteries is still complex and researchers are working to simplify it and scale it up for commercial use.
Construction details of a sand battery can be found in the patent filed by inventor Vladan Petrović from Serbia. The inventor also calls it a "heat storage device for long-term heat storage of solar energy and other types of energy".
For those who prefer straightforward guides on how to build a sand battery, take a look at this video showing the "rocket stove" sand battery:
There are even more interesting videos on explaining DIY sand heat storage:
Despite the current limitations, the potential of sand batteries as a low-cost and safe option for large-scale energy storage makes it an exciting alternative to all currently known systems capable for solar energy storage.
See our latest special report, "Reinventing Invention: Stories From Innovation''s Edge" →
Finnish startup Polar Night Energy is developing thermal energy storage system known as "sand batteries" for warming up buildings
Polar Night Energy, a startup in Finland, has developed technology for warming up buildings with solar-generated heat stored in sand. The team uses thermal modeling to optimize the design of their heat storage and distribution systems, which are helping Finnish cities reduce their consumption of nonrenewable heating fuels.
This sponsored article is brought to you by COMSOL.
As we try to objectively study nature, we are often reminded of how natural forces affect us personally. We can sit at a desk and consider heat in its various forms, but we might be distracted if our toes are cold! When we turn up the heat in our homes and workplaces, we must balance our personal need for warmth with the global impact of burning fossil fuels like oil, gas, coal, and biomass. Anthropogenic climate change confronts humanity with a challenge: How can we keep warm now as we try to prevent our world from overheating in the future?
It is a daunting question that a startup called Polar Night Energy, in the small and chilly nation of Finland (Figure 1), is attempting to answer. In a region known for long, dark winter nights, Polar Night Energy is building a system in the city of Tampere that can heat buildings with stored solar energy — all day, all night, and all winter long. The apparent contradictions do not end there. In an era of complex cleantech solutions, often made from rare and expensive materials, Polar Night Energy''s heat storage and distribution system consists of simple ducts, pumps, valves, and sand. The novel system shows potential for tackling global problems in a patient, thoughtful, and human-scaled way.
Figure 1. The nation of Finland, part of which is above the Arctic Circle. Polar Night Energy's heat storage systems are currently installed in the cities of Tampere and Kankaanpää.
Big problems demand big solutions, and there is perhaps no bigger 21st-century problem than climate change. To meet this challenge, many governments and organizations are investing in new technology to help lessen the use of fossil fuels. These initiatives have largely focused on renewable electric power generation, distribution, and storage.
"When you ask people about cleaner energy, they think of electricity," says Tommi Eronen, CEO of Polar Night Energy. "But we also have to cut emissions from heating." Out of Finland''s energy-related emissions, 82 percent come from heating domestic buildings (Ref. 1). "We want to replace all of that if we are to have any hope of meeting our global climate goals," Eronen says.
The spirit of "Think Globally, Act Locally", a mantra associated with the 1960s, lives on with Polar Night Energy''s team of innovators. Their journey began with a question posed by its founders, Tommi Eronen and Markku Ylönen, when they were university classmates: "Is it possible to build an energy-self-sufficient and cost-effective hippie commune for engineers using only solar power?" After graduation, the project they codenamed "Hippie Commune" became Polar Night Energy, with Eronen as CEO and Ylönen as CTO.
What began as a lighthearted (but serious) student project led to a 3 MWh/100 kW pilot plant in the Finnish city of Tampere, which began operation during the winter of 2020–2021. The system uses electricity to heat air, which is then circulated through an exchanger that heats water and distributes it to multiple buildings in the city''s Hiedanranta district (Figure 2).
Figure 2. A schematic of the components and operating cycle of the Polar Night Energy system.
Inside the system, electrically powered resistive heating elements heat air to more than 600°C. The hot air is circulated through a network of pipes inside a sand-filled heat storage vessel. The hot air then flows back out of the vessel into a heat exchanger, where it heats water that is then circulated through building heating systems. The sand''s heat storage capacity ensures that even when the resistive elements are cool, the circulating air is still hot enough to keep the water (and buildings) warm.
"We only have pipes, valves, a fan, and an electric heating element. There is nothing special here!" Eronen says, laughing.
About Sand battery for heat storage
As the photovoltaic (PV) industry continues to evolve, advancements in Sand battery for heat storage have become critical to optimizing the utilization of renewable energy sources. From innovative battery technologies to intelligent energy management systems, these solutions are transforming the way we store and distribute solar-generated electricity.
When you're looking for the latest and most efficient Sand battery for heat storage for your PV project, our website offers a comprehensive selection of cutting-edge products designed to meet your specific requirements. Whether you're a renewable energy developer, utility company, or commercial enterprise looking to reduce your carbon footprint, we have the solutions to help you harness the full potential of solar energy.
By interacting with our online customer service, you'll gain a deep understanding of the various Sand battery for heat storage featured in our extensive catalog, such as high-efficiency storage batteries and intelligent energy management systems, and how they work together to provide a stable and reliable power supply for your PV projects.
