Key facts
- Finland has launched the world's largest commercial sand battery.
- The sand battery has a capacity of 100 MWh.
- The system uses 2,000 tons of soapstone.
- The sand is heated to up to 600°C.
- Energy can be stored for weeks or months with minimal loss.
- The stored heat can provide for district heating networks.
Finland has officially launched the world's largest commercial sand battery, a significant development in renewable energy storage. This pioneering system boasts a capacity of 100 MWh and is constructed using 2,000 tons of soapstone. The core technology involves heating the sand to extreme temperatures, reaching up to 600°C. This allows for the storage of excess renewable energy for weeks or even months, with a key advantage being minimal energy loss during the storage period. The stored thermal energy is then available to provide heat for district heating networks, addressing a critical need for reliable and sustainable heating solutions. The system represents a novel approach to managing the intermittent nature of renewable energy sources by converting them into a storable heat form.