World's first giant molten salt 'battery'

The newly opened molten salt green energy storage facility in Denmark is like a giant and extremely efficient battery.

Simulation of a molten salt energy storage facility. Photo: Hyme Energy — Simulation of a molten salt energy storage facility. Photo: *Hyme Energy*

Danish company Hyme Energy has launched the world's first energy storage project using molten salt hydroxide to store green energy. The project is called Molten Salt Storage Facility (MOSS) and the first energy storage facility is located in the city of Esbjerg. Soren Gade, the President of the Danish Parliament, inaugurated the facility, Interesting Engineering reported on April 26.

A major challenge when it comes to green energy is storing the abundant energy produced on sunny or windy days for later use. Hyme Energy’s solution is to store excess energy in molten hydroxide salts.

MOSS is like a giant, ultra-efficient battery. The new facility will store energy from renewable sources like wind and solar. During periods of good production, excess electricity is used to heat the hydroxide salt, causing it to molten. The molten salt is kept at extremely high temperatures, allowing it to store enormous amounts of energy.

Future commercial MOSS facilities could store green electricity in molten hydroxide salts heated to 700 degrees Celsius at gigawatt hour (GWh) scale, according to Ask Emil Lovschall-Jensen, CEO and co-founder of Hyme Energy.

By storing green electricity in molten hydroxide salt, MOSS creates a sustainable and reliable backup source when renewable electricity production drops. The heat energy stored in the molten salt is then released and efficiently converted into steam.

Remarkably, molten hydroxide salts are extremely heat-resistant, allowing them to store enormous amounts of energy with minimal loss. This stored energy is a viable alternative to traditional fossil fuels used in power plants and even heavy industries.

MOSS has the potential to decarbonise energy-intensive industries. Thermal energy accounts for 50% of global energy consumption and contributes 40% of carbon emissions. MOSS offers a green alternative to traditional sources of heat, in line with Denmark’s and the world’s carbon reduction targets.

The newly opened storage facility will undergo rigorous testing to demonstrate its capabilities. Following the testing, Hyme Energy will work to scale the technology for the global energy market, aiming for commercialization by 2026.

Thu Thao (According to Interesting Engineering )

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