Two years of simulations show that very close to 100% renewable electricity is affordable and feasible for Australia’s main grid, using just a few hours of battery storage.
To run a heat engine you need a temperature difference in order to generate work. When your system generates heat as a byproduct you can amplify the amount of work by increasing the temperature difference. This is how the cold block “stores” energy.
What’s your source on 90% efficiency? Here it’s stated 35% max.
I could not see where the 70% comes from, apart from the round trip efficiency of the heat capture. I dont know if that is what you are referring to. Do they have a input v output energy comparison somewhere?
What’s the advantage of that solution over existing solutions like heating molten salts?
Efficiency. You’re collecting 70% (potentially 80%) of the available energy. The best PV is below 30% and the best molten salts are 35% max.
I thought molten salt storage gets like 90% efficiency. What’s the advantage of storing energy by cooling blocks?
To run a heat engine you need a temperature difference in order to generate work. When your system generates heat as a byproduct you can amplify the amount of work by increasing the temperature difference. This is how the cold block “stores” energy.
What’s your source on 90% efficiency? Here it’s stated 35% max.
I’m just talking about storage. Molten salt energy storage is mentioned here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermal_energy_storage
I could not see where the 70% comes from, apart from the round trip efficiency of the heat capture. I dont know if that is what you are referring to. Do they have a input v output energy comparison somewhere?