Hot air energy storage background

Can hot air solve the supply and demand issues faced by solar energy?

EU-funded researchers are looking to hot air to overcome the supply and demand issues faced by solar energy and ease the clean energy transition. As the world shifts toward renewable energy, one major challenge remains: efficient energy storage.

Can compressed air save energy from solar panels?

As the world shifts toward renewable energy, one major challenge remains: efficient energy storage. An EU-funded research team is exploring the use of compressed air to store excess energy collected from solar panels.

What is energy-storage technology?

Energy-storage technology is seen as a way to help even out the imbalance in supply and demand by storing excess energy during periods of high production and using it when needed. Recent years have seen the construction of large lithium-ion battery farms that do just that.

How does a hot air system work?

Their system can take electricity or heat as input and releases hot air or steam in the range of 170 to 400 degrees Celsius as output. That temperature delivery is well suited for the food industry and paper industry, which have tested pilots of Kyoto’s system.

Could thermal storage be the future of energy?

If it succeeds, thermal storage devices could help consumers buffer against fluctuations in renewable energy supply and prevent overloading the grid during periods of high demand, all while using materials that are environmentally friendly, simple, and cheap. But the space is still young.

Is compressed-air energy storage a new concept?

“Compressed-air storage is not a new concept and has been demonstrated already at commercial scale,” said Zaversky. Currently, there are three compressed-air energy storage plants operating globally, in Germany, the US and China. Other sites are being explored and developed.