FINLAND HAS installed the world’s first sand battery that can store heat from renewable energy sources for months. The Finnish developers told Down To Earth that the battery, made of sand collected from construction sites, can solve the problem of round-the year energy supply, a known limitation of renewable energy sources that can be harnessed intermittently. This is a major breakthrough, as heat alone accounts for half of the world’s energy use, followed by transport (30 per cent) and electricity (20 per cent), as per intergovernmental organisation International Energy Agency (iea). Currently, 80 per cent of the world’s energy comes from dirty fossil fuels.
The battery, a massive steel silo, 7 m tall and 4 m wide with 100 tonnes of sand, was installed in Finland’s Kankaanpää town in June 2022. It is connected to the town's centralised heating network that keeps buildings and public water systems warm. Owing to the cold temperature, all municipalities and cities in Finland have centralised heating networks, and 70 percent of them use renewable sources, as per non-profit The Finnish District Heating and Cooling Association.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
A SPRIG TO CARE FOR
Punarnava, a perennial herb, is easy to grow and has huge health benefits
DIGGING A DISASTER
Soapstone mining near Dabti Vijaypur village has caused many residents to migrate.
REVIEW THE TREATMENT
Several faecal sludge treatment plants in Uttar Pradesh suffer from design flaws that make the treatment process both expensive and inefficient
MAKE STEEL SUSTAINABLE
As India works to double its GDP by 2030, its steel industry must balance growth with sustainability. By embracing policies like the Steel Scrap Recycling Policy 2019 and adopting green technologies, India is paving the way for a more sustainable future in steel production
Can ANRF pull off the impossible for India?
Anusandhan National Research Foundation is expected to reorient India's innovation goals but funding issues, old mindsets remain a drag
TROUBLED WOODS
Forests are a great bulwark against climate change. But this is fast changing. AKSHIT SANGOMLA travels through some of the pristine patches of the Western Ghats to explore how natural disturbances triggered by global warming now threaten the forest health
BLINDING GLOW
The science is clear: increased illumination has damaging consequences for the health of humans, animals and plants. It’s time governments introduced policies to protect the natural darkness and improved the quality of outdoor lighting.
GROUND REALITY
What happens when the soil loses the ability to grow healthy, high-yield crops on its own?
GM POLICY MUST BE FARMER CENTRIC
On July 23, the Supreme Court of India directed the Union government to develop a national policy on genetically modified (GM) crops for research, cultivation, trade and commerce through public consultation.
Vinchurni's Gandhi
A 96-year-old farmer transforms barren land into a thriving forest in drought-prone region of Satara
