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All articles tagged with #energy storage

Scientists Unveil Rechargeable Molecule That Stores Sunlight as Heat
science14 days ago

Scientists Unveil Rechargeable Molecule That Stores Sunlight as Heat

A UC Santa Barbara team has designed a pyrimidone molecule for molecular solar thermal (MOST) storage that traps sunlight and stores it as heat in a rechargeable, recyclable system. With an energy density above 1.6 MJ/kg—higher than typical Li-ion batteries—the molecule can absorb energy, hold it, and release heat on demand, potentially circulating in solar collectors to store daytime energy for later use without a separate battery.

via The Daily Galaxy|
#energy-storage#molecular-solar-thermal-storage#pyrimidone
Stillage to Storage: Bourbon Waste Becomes High-Energy Supercapacitors
technology17 days ago

Stillage to Storage: Bourbon Waste Becomes High-Energy Supercapacitors

Chemists at the University of Kentucky convert bourbon distillery stillage into hard and activated carbon via hydrothermal carbonization, using the resulting materials as electrodes in supercapacitors. The devices store energy at competitive rates, with activated-carbon cells reaching about 48 W/kg and a lithium-ion–infused hybrid achieving up to 25 times the energy per kilogram of conventional supercapacitors, with ongoing work on scaling and sustainability.

via Ars Technica|
#carbon-materials#energy-storage#hydrothermal-carbonization
North Sea Turbines to Host AI Data Centers Using Sea Cooling
technology18 days ago

North Sea Turbines to Host AI Data Centers Using Sea Cooling

Aikido Technologies wants to place liquid-cooled AI data centers inside the ballast-filled legs of floating offshore wind turbines in the North Sea, using seawater cooling to shed heat and batteries to balance power. The prototype aims for about 100 kW initially, with later versions per leg of 3–4 MW (roughly 9–12 MW per turbine) and hybrid links to land grids. The plan, targeting a 2026 Norwegian test, builds on land experiments in Germany and faces challenges like salt exposure, motion, and connectivity.

via The Daily Galaxy|
#ai-data-centers#energy-storage#floating-platforms
Six February science gems you almost missed, from smart underwear to brainy Doom
science1 month ago

Six February science gems you almost missed, from smart underwear to brainy Doom

A six-story science roundup highlights Edison’s revived nickel‑iron battery for rapid recharge (but lower energy density), a star in Andromeda that collapsed directly into a black hole without a supernova, a snap-on ‘smart underwear’ sensor that tracks daily fart frequency, simulations explaining how Kuiper Belt contact binaries form, AI-assisted work proposing a possible ancient Roman board game called Ludos Coriovalli, and DishBrain’s neurons learning to play Doom with a Python-friendly interface.

via Ars Technica|
#battery-technology#energy-storage#neuroscience
Liquid Sun Battery Stores Summer Heat for Winter Use
technology1 month ago

Liquid Sun Battery Stores Summer Heat for Winter Use

Scientists at UCSB and UCLA built a liquid, solvent-free pyrimidone that absorbs sunlight, twists into a high-energy Dewar isomer, and stores energy in chemical bonds for later release as heat. In tests, it achieved an energy density of 1.65 MJ/kg—nearly twice that of typical lithium-ion batteries—and could boil water under ambient conditions, suggesting a potential closed-loop solar-heat system for winter. However, the molecule currently absorbs only UV-A/B (about 5% of solar energy) and has a low quantum yield, requiring extended sun exposure. The heat release relies on an acid catalyst, which would need a neutralization step in real systems. Despite these hurdles, with a projected long storage half-life (up to ~481 days) and no toxic solvent, the approach represents a promising step toward storing summer sunlight for cold months, though practical deployment remains years away.

via ZME Science|
#energy-storage#molecular-solar-thermal-storage#most
Google data center in Minnesota to run on Xcel’s 1.9 GW clean-energy expansion
business1 month ago

Google data center in Minnesota to run on Xcel’s 1.9 GW clean-energy expansion

Xcel Energy will power Google's new Pine Island data center in Minnesota under an Electric Service Agreement that will add 1,900 MW of new clean energy—1,400 MW wind, 200 MW solar, and 300 MW long-duration storage—plus a 300 MW/100-hour Form Energy iron-air battery (about 30 GWh). Google will cover its service costs, and the package includes a $50 million Capacity*Connect investment; the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission will review the agreement. The move aims to support Minnesota’s economy and energy goals while keeping current customers’ bills stable.

via Xcel Energy Newsroom|
#business#clean-energy#data-center
US Battery Storage Boom Reshapes the Grid in 2025
energy1 month ago

US Battery Storage Boom Reshapes the Grid in 2025

The US installed a record 57 GWh of new energy storage in 2025—roughly 30% more than 2024—with growth fueled by standalone and behind-the-meter deployments. SEIA projects about 70 GWh more in 2026, and Texas is on track to lead storage installations, potentially surpassing California. The boom persists despite a renewables-hostile federal stance and risks from supply chains and policy shifts, underscoring a shift toward a more resilient, battery-driven grid as demand rises.

via WIRED|
#battery-storage#energy#energy-storage
Ancient Queensland salt caverns could become Australia’s clean-energy backbone
energy1 month ago

Ancient Queensland salt caverns could become Australia’s clean-energy backbone

Geoscience Australia’s $31 million drilling of the Adavale Basin in outback Queensland identifies the Boree Salt deposit as thick enough to form underground caverns by dissolving salt, creating a storage space for hydrogen (or compressed air). This geological-scale energy reserve could store around 6,000 tonnes of hydrogen per cavern (~100 GWh), potentially powering tens of millions of homes for a day with a handful of caverns, complementing intermittent renewables.

via Interesting Engineering|
#adavale-basin#australia#energy
MIT's Energy-Storing Concrete Delivers 10x Capacitor Density
technology1 month ago

MIT's Energy-Storing Concrete Delivers 10x Capacitor Density

MIT researchers have developed a supercapacitor concrete that doubles as a structural material by embedding carbon nanostructures and liquid electrolytes, storing energy electrostatically and achieving about ten times the energy density of standard capacitors, though it remains below lithium-ion batteries. Potential uses include stabilizing wind-turbine output, industrial energy storage, and future urban infrastructure, while challenges such as scalability, durability, and the need for auxiliary components must be overcome before large-scale deployment.

via Geeky Gadgets|
#carbon-nanostructures#concrete#energy-storage
Tofu-Brine Water Battery Aims 120k Cycles, Outlasting Lithium-Ion by Decades
energy1 month ago

Tofu-Brine Water Battery Aims 120k Cycles, Outlasting Lithium-Ion by Decades

Researchers report a tofu-brine, water-based battery with organic electrodes and neutral electrolytes achieving 120,000+ cycles and non-flammability; if scalable, it could offer a cheaper, safer alternative for grid storage and backup power, potentially challenging lithium-ion, though energy density and real-world deployment remain to be proven.

via Interesting Engineering|
#eco-friendly#energy#energy-storage
Hydrated Sodium Vanadate Boosts Sodium-Ion Battery Performance and Desalination
technology1 month ago

Hydrated Sodium Vanadate Boosts Sodium-Ion Battery Performance and Desalination

University of Surrey researchers found that keeping water in nanostructured sodium vanadate hydrate (NVOH) dramatically boosts sodium-ion battery performance, nearly doubling energy storage, speeding charging, and maintaining stability for 400+ cycles. In seawater, the hydrated material also enables electrochemical desalination with a graphite electrode removing chloride, hinting at future batteries that store energy while desalinating water.

via ScienceDaily|
#desalination#energy-storage#hydrated-sodium-vanadate
Top Tesla Powerwall Alternatives to Consider
technology3 months ago

Top Tesla Powerwall Alternatives to Consider

Due to recent safety recalls and Elon Musk's political controversies, consumers are encouraged to consider alternative home battery solutions such as Bluetti EP800, Briggs & Stratton SimpliPHI, EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ultra X, EG4 PowerPro, Enphase IQ Battery, Franklin aPower 2, GM Energy Home System, Sigenergy V2X, StorEn vanadium flow, and Villara VillaGrid+ for more reliable and diverse energy storage options.

via Electrek|
#battery-alternatives#energy-storage#home-batteries