Experimental Investigation of Soapstone and Granite Rocks as Energy-Storage Materials for Concentrated Solar Power Generation and Solar Drying Technology
The next generation of sustainable energy technology might be built from some low-tech materials: rocks and the sun.
Using a new approach known as concentrated solar power, heat from the sun is stored then used to dry foods or create electricity. A team reporting in ACS Omega has found that certain soapstone and granite samples from Tanzania are well suited for storing this solar heat, featuring high energy densities and stability even at high temperatures.
Energy is often stored in large batteries when not needed, but these can be expensive and require lots of resources to manufacture. A lower-tech alternative is thermal energy storage (TES), which collects energy as heat in a liquid or solid, such as water, oil or rock. When released, the heat can power a generator to produce electricity. Rocks such as granite and soapstone are specifically formed under high heat and found across the globe, which might make them favorable TES materials. However, their properties can vary greatly based on where in the world they were formed, possibly making some samples better than others. In Tanzania, the Craton and Usagaran geological belts meet, and both contain granite and soapstone. So, Lilian Deusdedit Kakoko, Yusufu Abeid Chande Jande and Thomas Kivevele from Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology and Ardhi University wanted to investigate the properties of soapstone and granite found in each of these belts.
The team collected several rock samples from the belts and analyzed them. The granite samples contained a large amount of silicon oxides, which added strength. However, the Craton granite contained other compounds, including muscovite, which are susceptible to dehydration and could make the rock unstable at high temperatures. Magnesite was found in the soapstone, which conferred a high density and thermal capacity. When heated to temperatures over 1800 degrees Fahrenheit, both soapstone samples and the Usagaran granite had no visible cracks, but the Craton granite fell apart. Additionally, the soapstone was more likely to release its stored heat than the granite. In all, the Craton soapstone had the best performance as a TES, able to absorb, store and transmit heat effectively while maintaining good chemical stability and mechanical strength. However, the other rocks might be better suited for a lower-energy TES application, such a solar dryer. The researchers say that though further experiments are needed, these samples show good promise in being a sustainable energy storage material.
Original Article: The next generation of solar energy collectors could be rocks
More from: Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology | Ardhi University | American Chemical Society
The Latest Updates from Bing News
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Concentrated solar power
- China's rising hydro and solar set to cap coal use in 2024
China's electricity consumption increased by 209 billion kilowatt-hours, or 10%, in the first three months of 2024 compared with the same period in 2023, when the country was emerging from the exit ...
- Solar pioneer raises $51m to make the sun shine after dark
A big oil player has pumped millions into an Australian solar upstart that uses giant mirrors, special PV cells and water dams to extend its operating hours.
- Egypt Leads Arab World In Solar, Wind Power Generation: SEDA Egypt
Egypt has solidified its position as the leading producer of solar and wind energy in the Arab world, according to a recent report by the G ...
- Sunrise brief: Bifacial panels, representing 98% of U.S. solar imports, may soon be subject to tariffs
Origami Solar readies production of steel solar module frames. Important Q1 solar policy changes across 50 states. And more.
- Making the case for concentrated solar power
Dismissed by many in the solar industry as an overly complex, outdated technology, concentrated solar power (CSP) is set for a comeback thanks to a scaled-down, modular approach.
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Thermal energy storage
- Researchers develop sand-based technology to solve major issue with clean energy: 'This represents a new generation of storage'
"If we want to achieve our carbon reduction goals, we will need long-duration energy storage devices." Researchers develop sand-based technology to solve major issue with clean energy: 'This ...
- OpenAI’s Sam Altman and a16z back data center-focused thermal energy company Exowatt
Company aims to store solar energy via thermal battery; company claims 500MW backlog of data center customers in US ...
- City to install massive underground thermal energy storage facility: 'The world is undergoing a huge energy transition'
Now that we can generate clean, renewable energy from the wind and sun, one of the most pressing questions facing the clean energy transition is how to effectively store that energy for future use.
- Earth Day 2024: Expanding Energy Savings To Every Home And Building
Buildings are energy-intensive, creating about 40% of global fuel-based emissions. But the Energy Department is fostering change—an Earth Day message that resonates.
- MIT Technology Review
The systems, which can store clean energy as heat, were chosen by readers as the 11th Breakthrough Technology of 2024. We need heat to make everything from steel bars to ketchup packets.