Finland’s 100MW sand battery turns 2,000 tons of fireplace waste into power
In terms of size, this unique battery will have a height of about 13 meters and a width of roughly 15 meters.
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 virgin 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.
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.
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