Sandia National Laboratories has partnered with CSolPower LLC, a New Mexico-based company, to develop an economical energy storage solution for renewable sources. The collaboration aims to transition to zero-carbon electricity generation using solar and wind energy, according to a press release by Sandia National Laboratories.
The project is being financed by the Technology Readiness Gross Receipts initiative, as stated by Sandia National Laboratories. This initiative is supporting the current phase of the project.
The collaborative energy storage system involves a rock bed that can be heated or cooled with air, designed to store thermal energy. Sandia National Laboratories has constructed a 100-kilowatt-hour test rig at the National Solar Thermal Test Facility to evaluate the performance of this rock bed for energy storage. Photovoltaic panels are being installed, and updates are being made to demonstrate the system's capability to charge using intermittent energy sources, as mentioned in the press release. (Source)
According to a press release by Sandia National Laboratories, Luke McLaughlin, a mechanical engineer at Sandia who works on thermal energy storage, said, “With this project, we’re integrating renewable energy sources into an electrically charged thermal energy storage system. Our aim is to develop the technology and take it to a place where you can use wind and photovoltaic energy sources to charge the system.”
During testing, the rock bed was charged with air at temperatures exceeding 900 degrees Fahrenheit, and the system maintained this temperature for up to 20 hours. Prototype testing will continue until June 2024, with Sandia's Technology and Economic Development Department overseeing the tax-funded program. This program allows eligible New Mexico businesses to collaborate with scientists and engineers from Sandia and Los Alamos national laboratories, according to the press release. (Source)
“One of the advantages of thermal energy storage in rocks is that it can be built anywhere,” said Walter Gerstle, who co-founded CSolPower in Albuquerque in 2019, according to a press release by Sandia National Laboratories. “It can be commodified and doesn’t require extensive permitting. We believe it can be implemented more quickly and economically than other approaches.”
The partnership between Sandia National Laboratories and CSolPower LLC represents a significant step towards developing an efficient and cost-effective energy storage solution for renewable sources. By integrating renewable energy sources into a thermal energy storage system, the collaboration aims to contribute to the transition to zero-carbon electricity generation. The project's progress will be closely monitored, with the goal of implementing this technology on a larger scale in the future.