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Storing Renewable Energy in Stones

sun rise

sun rise

The world is on fire
Premium Member
There are some who complain about problems and those who solve them. The problem of storing renewable energy for time it's needed is being worked on and solved, sometimes in ways that surprise and delight me. This is one of those possible solutions soon to be tested.

GridScale: Storing Renewable Energy in Stones Instead of Lithium Batteries

The technology, which stores electrical energy as heat in stones, is called GridScale, and could become a cheap and efficient alternative to storing power from solar and wind in lithium-based batteries. While lithium batteries are only cost-effective for the supply of energy for short periods of up to four hours, a GridScale electricity storage system will cost effectively support electricity supply for longer periods – up to about a week.
...
“Basalt is a cheap and sustainable material that can store large amounts of energy in small spaces, and that can withstand countless charges and discharges of the storage facility. We are now developing a prototype for the storage technology to demonstrate the way forward in solving the problem of storing renewable energy – one of the biggest challenges to the development of sustainable energy worldwide,” ...


The GridScale prototype will be the largest storage facility in the Danish electricity system, and a major challenge will be to make the storage flexibility available on the electricity markets in a way that provides the best possible value. Consequently, this will also be part of the project.



 
exchemist

exchemist

Veteran Member
sun rise said:
There are some who complain about problems and those who solve them. The problem of storing renewable energy for time it's needed is being worked on and solved, sometimes in ways that surprise and delight me. This is one of those possible solutions soon to be tested.

GridScale: Storing Renewable Energy in Stones Instead of Lithium Batteries

The technology, which stores electrical energy as heat in stones, is called GridScale, and could become a cheap and efficient alternative to storing power from solar and wind in lithium-based batteries. While lithium batteries are only cost-effective for the supply of energy for short periods of up to four hours, a GridScale electricity storage system will cost effectively support electricity supply for longer periods – up to about a week.
...
“Basalt is a cheap and sustainable material that can store large amounts of energy in small spaces, and that can withstand countless charges and discharges of the storage facility. We are now developing a prototype for the storage technology to demonstrate the way forward in solving the problem of storing renewable energy – one of the biggest challenges to the development of sustainable energy worldwide,” ...


The GridScale prototype will be the largest storage facility in the Danish electricity system, and a major challenge will be to make the storage flexibility available on the electricity markets in a way that provides the best possible value. Consequently, this will also be part of the project.
Click to expand...
The trouble with this, it seems to me, is the Carnot cycle limitation of anything that generates electricity from heat energy. They will only get back <50% of the electrical energy they put in, so far as I can see. The rest will get wasted.

But if they are doing a pilot, then someone must have done the sums and thought that, even with this level of wastage, it is better than some alternatives. So let's see how it goes.....
 
Dan From Smithville

Dan From Smithville

Recently discovered my planet of origin.
Staff member
Premium Member
The Stones pull off another one. Finally, some satisfaction. Those guys rock! Keith Richards alone, will be available to store energy for centuries to come.

Seriously, I hope this sounds as good as it does.
 
Brickjectivity

Brickjectivity

wind and rain touch not this brain
Staff member
Premium Member
sun rise said:
There are some who complain about problems and those who solve them. The problem of storing renewable energy for time it's needed is being worked on and solved, sometimes in ways that surprise and delight me. This is one of those possible solutions soon to be tested.

GridScale: Storing Renewable Energy in Stones Instead of Lithium Batteries

The technology, which stores electrical energy as heat in stones, is called GridScale, and could become a cheap and efficient alternative to storing power from solar and wind in lithium-based batteries. While lithium batteries are only cost-effective for the supply of energy for short periods of up to four hours, a GridScale electricity storage system will cost effectively support electricity supply for longer periods – up to about a week.
...
“Basalt is a cheap and sustainable material that can store large amounts of energy in small spaces, and that can withstand countless charges and discharges of the storage facility. We are now developing a prototype for the storage technology to demonstrate the way forward in solving the problem of storing renewable energy – one of the biggest challenges to the development of sustainable energy worldwide,” ...


The GridScale prototype will be the largest storage facility in the Danish electricity system, and a major challenge will be to make the storage flexibility available on the electricity markets in a way that provides the best possible value. Consequently, this will also be part of the project.
Click to expand...
Cool. I'm enjoying these introductions to alternative power sources!

I think that one big winner will be the tech that stores energy in flywheels, because it adds robustness and flexibility to any energy solution*, such as the above hot basalt system. It is fast, gives you time to repair or take other power systems on or offline, switch your power grid source (change your dead battery) etc. One downside is that it currently costs more than lithium ion batteries for an equivalent energy density, however that only matters if you intend to use it alone. If done right it can add a reliable instantaneous source when power runs out or begins to become expensive, and that gives you time to bring other sources online, flip switches and start up other generators.
What is Flywheel Energy Storage – How Does it Work?

*I am not an engineer. :)
 
Twilight Hue

Twilight Hue

Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.
exchemist said:
The trouble with this, it seems to me, is the Carnot cycle limitation of anything that generates electricity from heat energy. They will only get back <50% of the electrical energy they put in, so far as I can see. The rest will get wasted.

But if they are doing a pilot, then someone must have done the sums and thought that, even with this level of wastage, it is better than some alternatives. So let's see how it goes.....
Click to expand...
Also require massive insulation to retain the heat.
 
ChristineM

ChristineM

"Be strong", I whispered to my coffee.
Premium Member
If using free, renewable energy, solar, wind, tidal etc it does not really matter so much about inefficiencies so long as some energy can be retrieved. Even if they can only count on 30 or 40% efficiency, 30 or 40% of free is still free
 
sayak83

sayak83

Veteran Member
Staff member
Premium Member
sun rise said:
There are some who complain about problems and those who solve them. The problem of storing renewable energy for time it's needed is being worked on and solved, sometimes in ways that surprise and delight me. This is one of those possible solutions soon to be tested.

GridScale: Storing Renewable Energy in Stones Instead of Lithium Batteries

The technology, which stores electrical energy as heat in stones, is called GridScale, and could become a cheap and efficient alternative to storing power from solar and wind in lithium-based batteries. While lithium batteries are only cost-effective for the supply of energy for short periods of up to four hours, a GridScale electricity storage system will cost effectively support electricity supply for longer periods – up to about a week.
...
“Basalt is a cheap and sustainable material that can store large amounts of energy in small spaces, and that can withstand countless charges and discharges of the storage facility. We are now developing a prototype for the storage technology to demonstrate the way forward in solving the problem of storing renewable energy – one of the biggest challenges to the development of sustainable energy worldwide,” ...


The GridScale prototype will be the largest storage facility in the Danish electricity system, and a major challenge will be to make the storage flexibility available on the electricity markets in a way that provides the best possible value. Consequently, this will also be part of the project.
Click to expand...
Essentially they are running an AC or heat pump system to make cold stones cooler and hot stones hotter when there is excess electricity. Then they are using the hot and cold stones to run a conventional power plant when they want electricity back. Efficiency won't be more that 30% but stone is cheap and durable. So running and installation costs will be low. That's the advantage. If you have hills, pumped hydro storage is a better often. It does not have the thermal energy conversion penalty, only friction losses. Denmark does not have hills I think...
This century-old technology could be the key to unlocking America’s renewable energy future
 
Twilight Hue

Twilight Hue

Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.
ChristineM said:
If using free, renewable energy, solar, wind, tidal etc it does not really matter so much about inefficiencies so long as some energy can be retrieved. Even if they can only count on 30 or 40% efficiency, 30 or 40% of free is still free
Click to expand...
Only the math will determine if it's effectiveness and cost efficiency over time.

It's not going to do much good if it's costly to produce and maintain, and get little in return to cover those costs.
 
Twilight Hue

Twilight Hue

Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.
sayak83 said:
Essentially they are running an AC or heat pump system to make cold stones cooler and hot stones hotter when there is excess electricity. Then they are using the hot and cold stones to run a conventional power plant when they want electricity back. Efficiency won't be more that 30% but stone is cheap and durable. So running and installation costs will be low. That's the advantage. If you have hills, pumped hydro storage is a better often. It does not have the thermal energy conversion penalty, only friction losses. Denmark does not have hills I think...
This century-old technology could be the key to unlocking America’s renewable energy future
Click to expand...
One thing I'll say for it is the reliability of a system with less moving parts, means less downtime and maintenance once installed.
 
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