“New Renewable Energy Source Discovered: Prepare to Be Amazed”

Could Sand Be the New Frontier of Renewable Energy?

Sand, a common sight on our beaches, might just be the next big thing in renewable energy alongside wind and solar power.
A groundbreaking new energy storage method has been discovered in Finland, harnessing the physical properties of sand, such as its heat storage capability at high temperatures.
This could provide a more stable and reliable energy supply, as sand can efficiently store and release heat as needed.

How Does the New Sand-based Renewable Energy Source in Finland Work?

The world’s largest sand battery is set to be built in Pornainen, southern Finland, and is expected to be operational within a year.
This unit will be able to store 100 MWh of thermal energy from solar and wind sources.
This revolutionary method will allow residents to eliminate oil from their district heating network, reducing emissions by almost 70%.

Developed by Polar Night Energy, the battery relies on a process called resistive heating.
In simple terms, it involves a large steel (or similar solid material) sand silo being heated to produce energy that can be stored for months and extracted, initially as heat, on demand.

The extracted energy could potentially be converted back into electricity, albeit with some residual loss.
In a cold location like Finland, this can make a significant impact by helping to heat homes, buildings, and even pools within the local district heating system.

CEO Markku Ylönen: “It’s a Simple Process That Could Phase Out Oil”

Polar Night Energy has described the structure of its prototype as relatively straightforward.
Essentially, it involves accumulating and storing sand, which is then charged with excess solar and wind electricity.
The construction and testing of the 13 meters high and 15 meters wide battery are expected to last around 13 months, ensuring residents can benefit well before winter 2025.

According to CEO Markku Ylönen, one of the project’s founders, “There’s really nothing special about it.
The complexity happens in the computer; We need to understand how energy, or heat, moves within the accumulator, so we always know how much is available and at what rate we can discharge and charge.”

He argues that it is an environmentally friendly technique and that the sand battery could significantly reduce energy generated from combustion, potentially leading to the elimination of oil usage.

Is sand completely sustainable? The solution might lie in crushed soapstone: “We wanted to find something that could be found almost anywhere in the world,” says Markku.

Challenges Ahead

Despite the promise of sand-based energy storage, challenges remain.
Scaling up this technology will require extensive research and development in the energy sector.
The role of government (and private) investments will be crucial in overcoming barriers and advancing this innovative project for the widespread adoption of this potentially revolutionary technique.