Denmark Unveils 1GWh Molten Salt Battery to Decarbonize Heavy Industry
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jul 19
Denmark Unveils 1GWh Molten Salt Battery to Decarbonize Heavy Industry
1 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jul 19
Summary
A 1GWh molten salt battery project unveiled by Denmark earlier this year can store clean electricity for up to two weeks, targeting one of the hardest parts of the energy transition: industrial heat.
At roughly 600C, the heated salts act as long-duration storage; when discharged, the system produces high-temperature steam that can be used directly in factory processes.
The project highlights an alternative to lithium-ion batteries, which rely on critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt and nickel and have finite charge-discharge cycles.
Molten salt joins a wider push into non-lithium storage, from the UAE’s 5.2GW solar-plus-19GWh battery complex to Finland’s 100MWh sand battery and the UK’s planned 300MWh liquid-air plant.
As solid-state batteries arrive, how will they compete against cheaper sodium-ion EVs and massive grid-scale thermal storage systems?
Beyond the lab, what are the hidden supply chain hurdles for globally scaling novel energy storage like liquid air or sand batteries?
With lithium-ion costs plummeting, what is the true economic advantage of alternative long-duration storage technologies now entering the market?
Powering 100,000 Homes for 10 Hours: Denmark’s 200 MWh Molten Salt Battery Ushers in a New Era of Long-Duration Energy Storage
Overview
Denmark is leading a major breakthrough in long-duration energy storage with the launch of the MOSS demonstrator plant in Esbjerg in April 2024. Developed by Hyme Energy and Sulzer, this innovative molten salt battery system uses molten hydroxide salt, an inexpensive byproduct of chlorine production, as its storage medium. The plant successfully proved it can store enough energy to power 100,000 homes for 10 hours, marking a crucial step toward a more stable and sustainable energy grid. This technology is set to transform how renewable energy is stored and used, especially for heavy industry.