Finland’s 100MW sand battery turns 2,000 tons of fireplace waste into power

[Pelican Press 0]

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

Finland’s 100MW sand battery turns 2,000 tons of fireplace waste into power

A hot new contender in the realm of energy storage is emerging. Finnish company Polar Night Energy is rapidly advancing the development of an industrial-scale Sand Battery.

This sustainable energy storage solution is being constructed in Pornainen, southern Finland.

This sand battery is a thermal energy storage system that utilizes a unique material: crushed soapstone.

What makes this project even more special is its commitment to circular economy. The soapstone, a by-product of Tulikivi’s fireplace production, is repurposed to power a community.

Once ready, it will serve as a thermal energy source for power station Loviisan Lämpö’s district heating network.

“We’re very pleased to use a by-product of Tulikivi’s production instead of ******* materials for the Sand Battery, supporting the principles of circular economy. We have high expectations for soapstone’s performance,” said Tommi Eronen, CEO of Polar Night Energy.

Depiction of sand battery storage and supply. Polar Night Energy

2,000 tons of crushed soapstone used

The Sand Battery was filled with 2,000 tons of soapstone, which is the approximate weight of one thousand soapstone fireplaces. The site has received 40 truckloads of crushed soapstone for this purpose.

The giant Sand Battery will be the main power source for Pornainen’s district heating network. It will be capable of generating 1 megawatt (MW) of power and storing 100 MWh of energy.

In terms of size, this unique battery will have a height of about 13 meters and a width of roughly 15 meters.

The soapstone filling process is done. As per the press release, the next phase will see the final stages of installation, followed by rigorous winter testing. The Sand Battery is expected to begin operations in 2025.

The project has received financial support from Business Finland’s new technology energy aid program.

Circular economy

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

—  a material with a long history in Finland — is primarily mined in the regions of North Karelia and Kainuu.

These rocks have exceptional thermal conductivity. Besides its efficient heat conduction, soapstone is also remarkable for its ability to retain heat, surpassing the performance of many other rocks.

This stored energy can then be released to provide reliable and sustainable heat for homes and businesses.

****** research by the two companies has confirmed the suitability of crushed soapstone for use in Loviisan Lämpö’s

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

.

Moreover, this plant will operate entirely on electricity, eliminating the need for fuel transportation and contributing to a cleaner energy future.

“The Sand Battery will significantly reduce the combustion-based energy used in our district heating network, and the collaboration with Tulikivi has added a valuable circular economy aspect to this project,” said Mikko Paajanen, Loviisan Lämpö CEO, in the

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

Loviisan Lämpö company is a district heating provider for Loviisa, Pukkila, Pornainen, Pyhtää Siltakylä, Pyhtää village center, and Lappohja.

This innovative approach reduces waste and promotes a circular economy.

Instead of being discarded as waste, soapstone is being given a new life as a valuable component in the Sand Battery. This reduces the need for extracting and processing new materials.

“The principles of the circular economy challenge the mining industry to seek new solutions. For instance, we’ve started using recycled ceramics in some of our new fireplaces. This innovative Sand Battery cooperation is one example of the fresh thinking we need more of,” said Heikki Vauhkonen, CEO of Tulikivi.

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

#Finlands #100MW #sand #battery #turns #tons #fireplace #waste #power

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up