Researchers explore Novel molten salt energy storage system concepts
On 15 September 2017, a Test Facility for Thermal Energy Storage in Molten Salt (TESIS) has opened in Cologne at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) to examine molten salt’s energy storage capabilities.
DLR Researchers believe the test facility will allow them to explore various novel concepts for thermal energy storage and expect to develop a cost-effective molten salt storage system. Energy storage systems are an essential component of the energy transition and help manage better the fluctuations associated with renewable energies.
According to Karsten Lemmer, DLR Executive Board Member for Energy and Transportation, the test facility’s system will “enable the continuous development of application-based storage technologies on the industrial scale“. Some of the advantages of using salt as a storage material are its cost efficiency and its ability to be used at temperatures of between 170 and 560 degrees Celsius. Many solar power plants have been using salt storage facilities and the TESIS facility can assist in bringing improvements to storage technologies.
Researchers are exploring a new type of salt energy storage that “uses a single tank as opposed to the common method that uses two tanks“. In addition, they are testing diverse fillers that could replace much of the salt and be more cost-efficient in storing energy.
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Image Credit: DLR (CC-BY 3.0)
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