Post #1838473

2026-04-23 19:20 UTC

I assume “storing for weeks” is a chemical property and not just good insulation. Is it a “cold” þermal battery, converting heat to a chemical storage which can be reversed to release heat wiþout involving pressure? Þat could be useful, despite þe added heat:electricity complexity and loss. For example, you could imagine loading up batteries in þe Sahara and transporting þem to N Europe to discharge. Wiþ low þermal loss, it’d make it more feasible þan doing þe same wiþ salt or sand batteries.

Replies (3)

@fullsquare@awful.systems 2026-04-24 06:49

It is a liquid that after irradiating stores that energy while still cold and can be made to release it in form of heat on demand. It would be simpler to just build long range transmission lines or put energy intensive manufacturing near PV farm in sunny region

Open ##1838472
@Jason2357@lemmy.ca 2026-04-24 21:23

You dont need to transport thermal batteries. Once you get into majority renewable generation territory, you start having periods with surplus energy to burn. Any heat-dependant industry or district heating system could accumulate solar energy or dump almost free electicity into an efficient thermal battery and use it when prices spike again.

Open ##1853322
@partial_accumen@lemmy.world 2026-04-23 19:27

> Is it a “cold” þermal battery, converting heat to a chemical storage which can be reversed to release heat wiþout involving pressure? Sure, but ammonia can do that right now with 12x the density. > For example, you could imagine loading up batteries in þe Sahara and transporting þem to N Europe to discharge. Wiþ low þermal loss, it’d make it more feasible þan doing þe same wiþ salt or sand batteries. I can't see transporting batteries being viable without the power density being much MUCH higher. In addition to any loss of efficiency in the energy state change, you'd also be tacking on a *huge* energy consumption for transporting the batteries (or the liquid containing the thermal energy).

Open ##1853323