4 Innovations That Prove Thermal Batteries Will Revolutionize Energy Storage

As the world moves towards a more sustainable and renewable energy future, one of the most difficult issues is to design effective and efficient energy storage systems. Batteries have been an important part of this effort, allowing for the storage and use of energy from renewable sources such as solar and wind power. 

 

However, conventional battery technologies remain limited in terms of cost, performance, and safety. That is why researchers around the world are working tirelessly to develop new chemistries and technologies that could revolutionize the way we store and use energy. In this article, we will explore the history and current state of battery technology, as well as the most promising new chemistries and industry applications that are driving demand for new innovations.

 

Understanding Thermal Batteries

 

Thermal battery technology is a novel method to energy storage that uses heat as a medium to store and release energy. This technique is based on the capture and storage of thermal energy, either from excess heat created by industrial operations or renewable energy sources. The stored energy can then be turned back into electricity or used immediately for heating. Thermal battery technology's mechanisms are based on thermodynamic principles, specifically the charging and discharging processes.

 

Molten salts, phase change materials (PCMs), and thermochemical compounds are all important components of thermal batteries, influencing their efficiency and capacity. These materials are chosen for their capacity to store a large amount of thermal energy and release it at a controlled rate.

 

On top of the already impending climate disaster, the present energy predicament caused by the Ukrainian war has highlighted the necessity for a swift transformation in European energy systems. High electricity rates in Norway have intensified the attention on energy-saving and energy-shifting devices. According to the International Energy Agency's key criteria, a safe and environmentally sustainable departure from the current energy crisis necessitates scaling up clean energy technology and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

 

 However, most renewable energy systems are volatile - we cannot make the sun shine or the wind blow - thus advancements and improvements in energy storage technologies are critical to ensuring adequate flexibility and avoiding fossil backup on days when there is no sun or wind.

 

Also Read | What is Thermal Energy?

 

Why is Thermal Energy Storage Important?

 

As more renewable energy generation (such as wind turbines and solar panels) enters the national grid, there will be more chances to absorb and store that energy for later consumption at home.

 

Energy can be stored in several ways, including electric batteries, vehicles, and massive hydropower plants. However, another alternative is to save it as heat for our radiators and showers, And by storing energy as heat, renewables (such as solar panels and heat pumps) become an even better option. Especially when you consider that heating and hot water account for more than 80% of the energy we use in our homes.
 

Thermal energy storage (AKA heat storage) encompasses all methods of storing energy, allowing it to be used for heating or hot water as needed.

 

For example, if you have solar panels for a large portion of the time, they may generate more electricity than you can utilize in a typical day. Storing this excess power for heating is an excellent approach to maximize its use.

 

Do you live in a property where the heating system does not provide adequate heat on demand? Or where you generate heat or electricity when you don't need it? Thermal storage is a really fantastic solution to deal with these problems—helping to keep prices down, keeping your carbon footprint smaller, and just overall making life at home easier (and cozier!)

 

This sort of storage is suitable with a wide range of heating systems and renewable energy sources, including gas or oil boilers, solar panels, heat pumps, biomass boilers and wood pellet stoves. They all generate energy, which may subsequently be stored with the proper equipment. 

 

Also Read | Understanding Smart Building Automation With IoT

 

How do we store renewable energy? 

 

The goal is to store energy generated during peak renewable generation capacity so that it can be used later when needed.

 

With the world's renewable energy generation hitting new heights, four storage technologies are critical to smoothing out energy demand peaks and dips without relying on fossil fuels. Some of the ways that can be used are:

 

1. Pumped Hydro

 

Pumped hydro involves pumping water uphill during periods of low energy demand. Water is held in a reservoir and discharged through turbines to generate energy during peak demand periods.

 

Hydropower – including pumped storage – is expected to remain the world’s largest source of renewable electricity generation, according to the International Energy Agency. It uses the motion of water to generate electricity and plays a "critical" role, the IEA says, in decarbonising the power system. It is also key to plugging gaps in energy demand.

 

2. Batteries

 

Batteries have been around since the 1800s, and they transform stored chemical energy into electrical energy.

 

Grid-scale battery systems that can store growing amounts of energy are experiencing record growth thanks to technological advancements and dropping pricing. The Moss Landing Energy Storage Facility in California, US, is the world's largest battery energy storage system so far, with the first 300-megawatt lithium-ion battery - containing 4,500 stacked battery racks - being operational in January 2021.

 

3. Thermal energy storage

 

Thermal energy storage is employed mostly in buildings and industrial activities. It entails storing excess energy, usually from renewable sources or waste heat, to be used later for heating, cooling, or power generating.

 

Thermal energy can be stored in both liquids like water and solids like sand or rocks. Chemical reactions or material changes can also be employed to store and release heat energy.

 

4. Mechanical energy storage

 

Mechanical energy storage uses motion or gravity to store electricity. A flywheel, for example, is a rotating mechanical device that stores rotational energy and can be accessed instantly.

 

"Flywheel technology offers several favorable qualities that allow us to improve our current electric system," states the Energy Storage Association, the US national trade association for energy storage.

 

Conclusion 

 

To sum up , Thermal Energy refers to a variety of methods that temporarily store energy by heating or cooling different storage media for subsequent utilization. Sometimes called ‘heat batteries,’ TES technologies work to decouple the availability of heat generated from renewable electricity, solar thermal energy, or even recovered waste heat from when it is actively needed, helping decarbonize industrial processes and the heating or cooling of buildings.

 

TES is a viable electrification option because it can employ low-cost renewable electricity, such as wind generated at night, to generate and store heat for later consumption. This provides utility-scale grid storage and helps manage renewables' intermittency.

 

There are several types of TES technologies that differ primarily in terms of the energy sources, storage materials, and chemical or physical processes that underpin them. Most frequently, TES technologies use temperature changes to store energy in liquids or solids without affecting their state of matter. This process often involves converting renewable electricity to heat through common processes such as electrical resistance and storing heat for immediate or later use.

 

Storage mediums include water tanks, molten salt, and materials such as volcanic rock, minerals, ceramic, or concrete. Other forms of TES technologies similarly draw on renewable electricity but store heat via changes in states of matter (e.g. freezing water)