Storing energy without batteries: our breakthrough technology
Imagine if you could store energy replacing batteries with a local, safe, affordable and recyclable material. With our partners INSA Lyon and ENGIE, we are developing a breakthrough energy storage technology to serve as an alternative to batteries.
The solution is based on cement hydration, storing heat as energy and releasing it when needed in an infinitely repeatable cycle, all while avoiding the environmental and material challenges associated with conventional batteries.
The world needs innovative solutions to accelerate our shift towards renewable energy generation, distribution and storage – all areas in which Holcim can play a big part. With this collaboration we are moving energy storage forward, opening up a new range of solutions based on materials that are local and recyclable.
This innovation is based on leveraging the unique properties of a specific cementitious material that can absorb 300 kiloWatts of energy per cubic meter and release it later through hydration. It is designed to store the surplus energy that runs through a heating network and release it when needed through a hydration trigger.
Along with our partners, we will investigate how to efficiently integrate this solution into a heating network as well as the broader energy infrastructure.
In a world with fluctuating energy demands, this new approach could be key to meet the demands of renewable energy storage while optimizing urban heating networks, advancing our vision to build greener cities that work for people and the planet.
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