The new sand battery was developed by Polar Night Energy. Photo: Polar Night Energy
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Finland has launched the world’s largest operational sand battery in the municipality of Pornainen. The facility stores renewable energy as heat and supplies thermal energy to the local district heating network, significantly reducing the area’s reliance on fossil fuels.
Built by Finnish company Polar Night Energy and operated by local energy provider Loviisan Lämpö, the sand battery holds approximately 2,000 tonnes of crushed soapstone. It can deliver one megawatt of thermal power and store up to 100 megawatt-hours of energy.
This capacity makes it ten times larger than the company’s previous pilot facility in Kankaanpää, introduced in 2022.
The system captures surplus energy generated from renewable Mikko Paajanen, CEO of Loviisan Lämpö.
Beyond environmental benefits, the technology is designed to support energy grid stability. It stores energy during periods of low demand and discharges it during peak consumption, contributing to the flexibility and resilience of the national energy system.
Investment firm CapMan Infra, which supports the project, emphasised its economic appeal. “From an investor’s perspective, this technology holds tremendous potential: it can participate in electricity reserve markets, reduce dependency on single energy
Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
