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Fig. 1: Concept of thermal energy storage (TES)

name a few. Molten salt is currently used to store thermal energy in CSP
plants. NEST’s solution can substitute molten salt for a wide range of
applications, and also enable CSP to be utilized within a wider range of
applications where lack of suitable TES has been a signifcant hurdle.

Wind and other renewable energy sources
TES can also be used to store surplus energy from wind or other
renewable energy sources. Surplus electricity that otherwise would have
been dumped due to low demand, can be converted to heat and stored
in the NEST TES system.

Later when demand dictates it, this heat can be re-converted to
electricity. Although conversion loss will be substantial, it is in the same
range as CAES and better than hydrogen. Moreover, the electricity used
to charge the “thermal battery” would otherwise be lost and is thus
principally without cost.

Potential for the future
In the next two decades renewable energy is expected to represent 50%
of all new power generation installations, and 60% of new investments
into power generation systems. “Moderate” predictions show that
renewable electricity could constitute shares of 50-80% of the overall
electricity supply mix by 2050. The future growth of renewable energy is
contingent on incorporating effcient and cost-effective energy storage
on a grand scale.
New Energy Storage Technology (NEST AS)
www.energy-nest.com

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