Finland sand‑based thermal battery pilot targets EU energy storage emissions

A pilot thermal‑storage system using sand and crushed rock is being tested in the small town of Pornainen, Finland. Developed by Polar Night Energy for the local heating company Loviisan Lämpö, the technology stores excess renewable electricity as heat in insulated containers and releases it when needed for district heating.

The project is highlighted as a way to reduce Europe’s reliance on lithium‑ion batteries, which depend on rare‑earth materials and Chinese supply chains, and to cut CO₂ emissions – the pilot claims a reduction of about 160 tonnes of CO₂. With the EU aiming to increase storage capacity from the current 55 GW to 200 GW by 2030, the sand‑based battery offers a low‑cost, long‑duration alternative for seasonal storage, especially where the end‑use is heat rather than electricity.

While the system cannot match the efficiency of lithium‑ion for short‑term grid balancing, its simplicity and use of abundant materials could help meet the EU’s renewable‑energy integration goals and lessen dependence on imported fossil fuels.