‘A very Finnish thing’: Big sand battery starts storing wind and solar energy in crushed soapstone

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🗞️ Driving the news: The world’s largest sand battery, commissioned by Loviisan Lämpö in Pornainen, Finland, has begun operations
• Developed by Finnish startup Polar Night Energy, the battery stores up to 100 MWh of thermal energy from renewable electricity sources like wind and solar, helping the town cut emissions from heating by nearly 70%
• It is now the main heat source for Pornainen’s district heating network

🔭 The context: Sand batteries use resistive heating to store excess renewable energy as high-temperature heat in sand, a method ideal for long-duration energy storage
• The concept gained traction in 2022 when Polar Night Energy piloted a smaller version amid energy insecurity following Russia’s gas cutoff to Finland
• This marks a significant scale-up, demonstrating rapid development in thermal storage technologies

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Heating accounts for a major share of global emissions, and clean alternatives are essential for decarbonisation
• Sand batteries offer a low-cost, scalable, and sustainable method to store and dispatch renewable energy, especially in colder climates
• Using by-product materials like crushed soapstone also aligns with circular economy principles and reduces material-related emissions

⏭️ What's next: Polar Night Energy plans to expand globally and is in active talks with partners
• A new pilot in Valkeakoski will test reconversion of thermal energy into electricity, potentially broadening the technology’s application
• If proven effective, large-scale deployment could revolutionize heating systems across Europe and beyond, supporting energy independence and decarbonisation goals

💬 One quote: “Pornainen wants to be a front runner in sustainable energy solutions ... the sand battery plays an important role in achieving [carbon neutrality],” — Mayor Antti Kuusela

📈 One stat: The new sand battery is expected to cut Pornainen’s heating-related emissions by 160 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent per year

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