wwarnout t1_j56gsa7 wrote on January 20, 2023 at 6:59 PM

This is a good idea, if you're going to use the heat directly for home or water heating. However, it's not very applicable if you primary need is electricity.

paulfdietz t1_j578iwr wrote on January 20, 2023 at 9:56 PM

At a grid scale, sand batteries using resistive heating can regenerate electrical power with ~53% round trip efficiency, LCOS of maybe $0.05/kWh.

https://arpa-e.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2021-03/07%20Day1-Zhiwen%20Ma_NREL.pdf

Babcock and Wilcox are commercializing this technology now.

Electrical_Age_7483 t1_j59a3rt wrote on January 21, 2023 at 8:42 AM

Heats the main use of energy in a lot of countries