MIT readapts ancient firebrick technology to boost profitability of renewables
“One of the barriers to the large-scale adoption of clean energy is what to do with the excess electricity produced when demand is low. There are storage options like batteries or pumped hydroelectric systems, but it can be costly, and it’s a problem that makes renewables less profitable compared to fossil fuels. Now, researchers at MIT say that the ancient technology of firebricks could be a low-tech, low-cost way to store carbon-free energy, making a widespread switch over to renewables much more economically feasible.
According to MIT News, firebricks — which are essentially made of a type of clay that can withstand high temperatures — date back over 3,000 years to the time of the Hittites. The researchers have adapted the firebrick concept into a system they call Firebrick Resistance-heated Energy Storage, or FIRES, which they detailed in a paper published in The Electricity Journal…”
#future = #REALnews #clean #green #sustainability #energy #tech #innovation #progress #science #design #engineering #revolution #environment #solar #climatechange #ClimateAction #renewableenergy #renewables #economy
https://www.treehugger.com/renewable-energy/mit-firebrick-resistance-heated-energy-storage.html