Solar sand thermal storage

Can sand be used to convert thermal energy to electricity?

Gifford, who already shares two patents with Ma on heat exchangers that convert stored thermal energy to electricity, said the use of sand or other particles to store thermal energy has another advantage over batteries.

What is thermal energy storage?

Another approach relies on what is known as thermal energy storage, or TES, which uses molten salt or even superheated rocks. TES shows promise as a low-cost alternative to existing storage technologies, and storing energy in solid particles such as sand provides a ready answer, without geological restrictions.

Can thermal energy storage reduce solar energy production?

One challenge facing the widespread use of solar energy is reduced or curtailed energy production when the sun sets or is blocked by clouds. Thermal energy storage provides a workable solution to this challenge.

Can silica sand be used for thermal energy storage?

Researchers like Ma think that using silica sand for thermal energy storage over and over can help replace traditional heating fuels like coal and natural gas. What’s more, the sand cost about $50 per ton, which is much cheaper than the per-unit cost of lithium batteries (though prices are falling there as well).

Is sand a good option for energy storage?

TES also has another key advantage: the cost. Ma has calculated sand is the cheapest option for energy storage when compared to four rival technologies, including compressed air energy storage (CAES), pumped hydropower, and two types of batteries. CAES and pumped hydropower can only store energy for tens of hours.

Will heated sand be the answer to energy storage needs?

Anyone who has ever hot-footed it barefoot across the beach on a sunny day walks away with a greater understanding of just how much heat sand can retain. That ability is expected to play a vital role in the future, as technology involving heated sand becomes part of the answer to energy storage needs.