Key Takeaways
- Polar Night Energy is building a sand battery capable of heating a town of 5,000 people for up to a month on a single charge.
- The sand battery will enable the town of Pornainen in Finland to cut all oil use in its district heating network, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 70%.
- The startup has secured €7.6mn to scale its thermal energy storage tech, with a South African billionaire providing the bulk of financing.
- Sand batteries offer an alternative to lithium-ion, using standard off-the-shelf components and materials like crushed soapstone, and can store energy over weeks and months without degradation.
- Sand batteries could become a significant part of the energy storage toolbox, especially in European towns with access to renewable energy.
News Content
Finnish startup, Polar Night Energy, is developing a revolutionary sand battery capable of heating a town of 5,000 people for up to a month on a single charge. The system is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 70% and eliminate the need for oil use in its district heating network. With a recent infusion of €7.6mn in funding, primarily from South African billionaire Jonathan Oppenheimer, the company aims to expand its thermal energy storage technology and build more sand batteries. Unlike conventional lithium-ion batteries, sand batteries use readily available materials and can store energy for weeks or months without degradation.
The sand battery charges when renewable energy is abundant, heating sand to 600°C, which can be stored for weeks or months and discharged on demand to provide heat to households, factories, and swimming pools. The battery in Pornainen, Finland, is set to stand 13 meters tall, 15 meters wide, and is approximately 10 times larger than the startup's pilot plant. These sand batteries offer an alternative to lithium-ion, utilizing standard off-the-shelf components and sand-like materials with high density, proving cost-competitive at €10 per kilowatt-hour and addressing the need to reduce oil and wood chip burning in heating systems.
In conclusion, sand batteries present a promising energy storage solution that could significantly contribute to the energy storage toolbox, especially in European towns with access to abundant renewable energy. However, it's important to note that while sand batteries can store energy for extended periods, they are specifically designed for heating and not electricity production. Nonetheless, they offer a sustainable and cost-effective alternative for district heating systems, contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
Analysis
Polar Night Energy's sand battery innovation addresses the pressing need for sustainable energy storage. The direct cause of its development is the push for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and reliance on oil. The consequences entail a potential 70% decrease in emissions and reduced oil use in district heating networks. In the short term, the technology's expansion could bolster renewable energy integration. Long term, it may become a staple in European towns, but its limitation to heating, not electricity, needs consideration. Despite this, the sand battery could significantly impact energy storage, especially in regions with ample renewable resources, shaping a more sustainable future.
Do You Know?
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Sand Battery: A revolutionary energy storage technology developed by Polar Night Energy, capable of heating a town of 5,000 people for up to a month on a single charge. It operates by heating sand to 600°C using abundant renewable energy, storing the heat for weeks or months and discharging it on demand to provide heat to households, factories, and swimming pools. Unlike conventional lithium-ion batteries, sand batteries use readily available materials and can store energy for extended periods without degradation.
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Thermal Energy Storage Technology: Refers to the method used by Polar Night Energy to store thermal energy in sand batteries, which is then discharged on demand to provide heat to various users. This technology presents a sustainable and cost-effective alternative for district heating systems, addressing the need to reduce oil and wood chip burning and contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
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Funding and Expansion: Polar Night Energy recently secured €7.6mn in funding, primarily from South African billionaire Jonathan Oppenheimer, to expand its thermal energy storage technology and build more sand batteries. This infusion of funding aims to support the company's growth and expansion as it endeavors to offer its innovative energy storage solution to European towns with access to abundant renewable energy.