Sand, air, heat could substitute lithium-ion batteries: WSJ
4 Min Read
As Western nations are forced to deal with the lack of Russian gas and oil supplies due to their sanctions, they are reverting back to ancient ways to store energy.
-
The sand battery developed by Polar Night Energy, Finland (Polar Night Energy)
As Europe grapples with the repercussions of the phase-out of Russian gas and oil exports due to the sanctions imposed on the country in the wake of the Ukraine war, an unexpected development is gaining impetus in the world of energy technology: natural batteries, a Washington Post report said.
Europe's need for energy led to innovations in the sector, as it sought energy solutions relying on readily available materials with the hopes of making up for the losses incurred due to the lack of Russian gas and oil. The means they have found, however, are nothing short of unconventional.
The crises-stricken continent has embarked on making batteries out of inexpensive items that store heat, the likes of sand and salt.
Historically, the concept of energy storage using elements like sand, salt, heat, and air dates back centuries. From ancient Egyptian homes harnessing solar heat to indigenous communities using materials like adobe, a mixture of water, clay, and organic material, for their heat-retention properties, these age-old principles are now being harnessed on a large scale for modern energy needs.
WashPo cited Finnish startup Polar Night Energy as a pioneer in the field of nonconventional batteries, as it operates the world's first commercial-scale sand battery.
These natural batteries, which use sand heated to extreme temperatures to store renewable energy, are designed to bridge the gap between inconsistent renewable energy generation from sources like wind turbines and solar panels.
One of the significant challenges facing the renewable energy revolution has been the lack of efficient, long-term energy storage solutions. While the cost of renewables has been dropping, the absence of effective storage mechanisms has hindered their widespread adoption. This is where natural batteries step in, holding the potential to store energy for weeks or even months, far surpassing the capabilities of conventional lithium-ion batteries.
Read next: China leads global green energy transition, but not without challenges
Polar Night Energy's sand battery facility in Finland is a prime example of this concept. Giant vats of sand are kept heated, using renewable energy from sources like solar panels and wind turbines.
The stored heat is then used to smooth out power grid fluctuations and support district heating systems, providing reliable warmth for homes and businesses. This not only addresses energy storage challenges but also mitigates the impact of dwindling fossil fuel supplies, particularly in regions impacted by geopolitical tensions.
The WashPo report vehemently argued in favor of natural batteries, highlighting that their appeal lies not only in their efficiency but also in their environmental and ethical advantages.
Unlike lithium-ion batteries, which rely on limited raw materials and are associated with issues like child labor and pollution, natural batteries use abundant, locally available materials that are often considered waste, the author argued.
Read next: China, Russia vow $1.4 bn for lithium plants in Bolivia
As the world invests more in clean storage technologies, the potential of natural batteries has caught the attention of investors and researchers alike. With over $900 million invested in clean storage technologies since 2021, the momentum is building toward a future where renewable energy storage could be a $3 trillion industry by 2040.
Despite the promise of natural batteries, there are still many challenges in place. These solutions need to match the reliability and consistency of fossil fuels, which have long provided power on demand. Another issue is the scalability of these technologies commercially, as well as their affordability.
As the energy landscape evolves, the emergence of natural batteries as a viable and eco-friendly storage solution marks a significant step toward a cleaner and more sustainable future, the Washington Post argued.
As the CEO of Danish startup Hyme, a molten salt-based storage company, aptly puts it, "There's really no other option" if societies are to transition away from fossil fuels while maintaining the convenience and flexibility they've come to expect from modern energy systems, the report concluded.
