Antora Energy (AE), a U.S. startup, is pioneering a groundbreaking solution for efficiently storing energy from renewable sources such as solar and wind.
Energy storage in hot rocks.
Conventional energy storage solutions, such as large battery systems, are often costly and heavily reliant on the extraction of minerals like lithium, which can harm the environment. AE’s solution is viewed as promising, cost-effective, and accessible, utilizing superheated rock blocks, also known as super thermal carbon.
This process involves using photovoltaic solar panels to capture sunlight and heat the rocks. These rock blocks function as energy storage units, reaching temperatures close to 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately 1,600 degrees Celsius), which is hotter than the melting point of steel (1,538 degrees Celsius).
The advantage of this technology is that it does not rely on burning tons of coal or gas for heating; instead, it absorbs energy from thousands of surrounding solar panels, similar to the experimental farm AE is constructing in West Fresno.
AE is experimenting with different types of rocks in insulated boxes or molten salt in vertical furnace tubes to identify the most effective combination. According to AE, they are particularly interested in graphite because the carbon in graphite is inexpensive and readily available, while also being capable of retaining significant heat and emitting hot light effectively.
