Thermal Energy Storage: Storing Heat Instead of Batteries for Grid Balance

Thermal energy storage (TES) stores energy as heat rather than electricity, offering a cost-effective solution for long-duration grid storage. Current TES capacity exceeds 50 GWh globally, primarily through concentrated solar power plants using molten salt. The technology is expanding to: district heating (storing summer heat for winter use), industrial processes (capturing waste heat), and power generation (converting stored heat back to electricity). Companies like Malta, Antora Energy, and Brenmiller Energy are developing next-gen TES systems. Cost advantage: TES at $20-50/kWh vs lithium-ion at $140/kWh. Duration: 8-100+ hours vs 2-4 hours for batteries.