What is the future of thermal energy storage?

A 2020 report from IRENA expected the global market for thermal energy storage to triple by 2030, to 800 gigawatt hours (about enough to power 800,000 average Canadian homes for a month). What on Earth?

How do you store a thermal battery?

Heat up a material, such as water or other substances that get much hotter, including graphite, sand or molten salt — up to 1,700 C, according to a recent report on industrial thermal batteries by the U.S. think-tank Energy Innovation. Store it in a way that minimizes heat loss, such as in an insulated container, or underground.

Is storing energy a good idea for a low-carbon grid?

Wind and solar generate cheap, clean power, but not always when it's needed most. So storing energy is an important part of a low-carbon grid — and storing it as heat can be cheaper, safer and more convenient than storing it in traditional batteries. A vast thermal tank to store hot water is pictured in Berlin, Germany, on June 30, 2022.

Will thermal energy storage be cheaper than lithium-ion batteries?

CSIRO, Australia's national science agency, estimates that thermal energy storage will be roughly a third cheaper than both lithium-ion batteries and pumped hydro for storage longer than four hours by 2050. This is the chiller room at The Well.