Sand battery green heating solution

Researchers in Finland have built the world’s first operational sand battery – a system that can store green energy for months at a time


Renewable energy: Solar panels and wind turbines generate electricity

A 30% of electricity supplied directly

B 70% is stored as heat within sand battery

Solar panel
Wind turbine
Sand battery

C Hot water from sand battery can heat buildings throughout year

A B C


Russia halted power supplies when Finland applied to join NATO

ARCTIC CIRCLE
300km 186 miles 
NORWAY
North Sea
GERMANY
Kankaanpää
SWEDEN
FINLAND
UKRAINE
RUSSIA


Electricity sent to resistive heating coil

Circulating air ducts warm sand to 500°C

100 tonnes of low grade sand

Air-water heat exchanger

Heated water pumped to homes and other buildings

Sand can retain stored heat for months


Future iterations could bury unsightly sand batteries underground


Sources: BBC, Polar Night Energy, Comsol 
© GRAPHIC NEWS