The search for cost-effective, long duration energy storage is one of the biggest challenges of the energy transition, and thermal storage in the ground is attracting growing attention. US start-up Standard Thermal is testing a simple approach that stores surplus solar electricity as heat in large earth mounds, potentially allowing energy to be stored for months and later used directly as industrial process heat. Our analyst Peter Ruschhaupt sees significant potential in such technologies, as underground storage could offer very large capacities and help bridge seasonal gaps in renewable energy supply.
Learn more about in this month’s article from Handelsblatt:
This article is the latest in the series “Green ideas that might change the world” that Handelsblatt and Future Cleantech Architects co-developed to shed light on some of the most intensively debated cleantech innovations. We are pleased to provide scientific guidance to the series. Stay tuned for new releases!