Scientists are increasingly looking for solutions to the climate crisis, yet the development of the world's largest battery made completely from sand might just prove to be a game-changing invention.
With the world increasingly edging towards a climate 'tipping point' that could cause cities to go underwater and deadly fungus to take over all of America, it's more important than ever for scientists to slow this progress down.
Some have tried wild experiments that attempt to block out the Sun, whereas others suggest that nothing meaningful will happen until the root cause of excessive fossil fuel usage is solved — and with demands for AI rapidly increasing that appears to be going nowhere.
However, the creation of a world-leading sand battery might just prove to be revolutionary when it comes to the climate crisis, and could be what provides a vital service for millions of people when it's up and running.
How does the sand battery work?
As reported by the Independant, the battery itself was created and inaugurated in Finland by Polar Night Energy, specifically in the southern municipality of Pornainen, and aims to store excess energy generated from other renewable sources like wind and solar.
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It stands 13 meters tall and can store up to 100 MWh of energy, which is enough to heat 10 homes for an entire year on a single 'charge' according to OVO Energy, measuring average energy usage across the United Kingdom.
It works by heating up sand within the battery with the aforementioned excess renewable energy, which can then be stored by the sand at temperatures of around 450°C for several weeks.
Once that heat is needed, it's then released by the sand battery as hot air, which is then subsequently used to increase the temperature of water within local heating networks.
How will the sand battery be used?
This particular sand battery will be used primarily to heat homes and offices in the Pornainen area, alongside an entire school and church in the town center.
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It specifically replaces the aging woodchip power plant that used to provide power and heat to the local residents, and will reduce overall carbon emissions in the area by roughly 70 percent.
Liisa Naskali, the COO of Polar Night Energy, has asserted that "the facility is now operational and providing affordable district heating for the clients," adding that her company has "shown that cost-effective solutions for electrifying heating do exist, it just takes courage to exist."
This is definitely a net plus for residents, as not only is it a much safer solution for the environment – and potentially also their health due to the reduced emissions – but they will also notice a difference in their wallets too as prices will decrease.