Finland has inaugurated the world's largest sand battery, a new thermal energy storage facility in the southern municipality of Pornainen. Developed by Polar Night Energy, the 13-metre-tall structure can store up to 100 MWh of renewable energy in the form of heat.

The system works by heating crushed sand with surplus electricity from solar and wind power. The stored heat, maintained at around 450°C, can then be released to produce hot air, which warms water for the local district heating network.

According to Polar Night Energy, the facility is capable of supplying heat for weeks at a time. It replaces the area's old woodchip plant and eliminates the need for oil, reducing carbon emissions by an estimated 70 per cent. Local buildings including homes, offices, a school, and a church are now powered by the system.

At the inauguration on 25 August, Finnish Environment and Climate Minister Sari Multala said the project demonstrates how district heating networks can be electrified in the transition to carbon neutrality.

Polar Night Energy has described the sand battery as a cost-effective and scalable solution, with potential applications in both district heating and industrial processes requiring high-temperature energy. Another pilot project is set to launch soon in Valkeakoski.

Finland aims to reach carbon neutrality within the next decade and cut greenhouse gas emissions by more than 90% by 2050.

Source: polarnightenergy.com