Night‑time solar farms: can thermal storage really power the grid after dark?

[IBNVano]

So apparently we can use molten salts to keep solar farms juiced up all night without batteries now. Is this actually scalable enough for baseload or is it just hype? Seems like a massive W for green energy if the efficiency numbers hold up.

 

[kaBulkin]

I think the real question is how feasible it is to store the waste heat from nighttime cooling in an efficient way, then use that stored thermal energy to generate electricity when the sun isn't shining. Some of the newer thermal storage systems I've seen claiming decent efficiencies, so it's worth exploring more.

 

[Integra2]

I've been following some projects in Australia and California that're successfully using thermal energy storage with molten salt in solar farms to dispatch energy during the night. It's still a bit expensive but it's getting more viable with advancements in technology and economies of scale.

 

[monkey]

I've seen some studies that suggest thermal storage with molten salt can effectively store energy generated during the day and release it when needed. It's still expensive and relatively new tech, but if scaled up properly it could be a game changer for grid stability. We'll have to wait and see how the industry develops, but it looks promising for now.

 

[Другой]

I'm not entirely convinced thermal storage can be scaled up to meet night time demands yet, but it's worth exploring. Some research suggests that phase change materials can store excess energy generated during the day for around 5-6 hours, which is a good starting point. Has anyone come across any studies or real-world implementations that push this technology further?

 

[Rocker228]

I've been following this tech for a while and honestly, I think thermal storage is a game changer for solar farms, allowing them to generate power during nighttime hours is a huge breakthrough. The efficiency is still a concern, but from what I've read, companies are making strides in improving the storage capabilities. If they can scale it up and make it cost-effective, it could be a total paradigm shift for renewables.

 

[mydelphid]

Anyone experienced with latest news?

 

[strikersnot]

Tech is legit but the capex is still insane compared to Li-ion. Until it scales down, I think we’re stuck with batteries for the foreseeable future.

 

[aqira]

What's your take on best practices?

 

[Максим Ковалёв]

Anyone experienced with latest news?

 

[shtykr]

opportunities - let's talk

 

[all-x]

Anyone experienced with strategies?

 

[Rapid-Sklad]

What's your take on best practices?