#energy-storage

#energy-storage

Imagine a future where the walls and floors of your home do more than just support your furniture. They actually store and supply electricity as well. This vision is coming closer to reality thanks to innovative research from scientists at MIT. Their latest breakthrough centers around a new type of carbon-infused concrete that can conduct electrons, effectively turning ordinary building materials into large-scale batteries.

Scientists at MIT develop Electron-Conducting Carbon Concrete, a kind of cement that can store and release electricity like batteries. Aimed for buildings, sidewalks, and other infrastructure, the energy-releasing material is made from four main ingredients: cement, water, ultra-fine carbon black, and electrolytes. The main stars are the carbon black and the electrolytes. For the former, its very small particles can form a conductive nanonetwork inside the concrete, allowing electricity to move through the material.

All these programs, measures and laws concerning solar energy, specifically in California, will continue to fall short of the ultimate goal to wean ourselves off of fossil fuels and reduce the high cost of electricity for all of us. Also, the use of valuable land to install solar farms is not the best idea either. Like I've suggested before, every commercial and residential rooftop should be utilized in some type of state or federal program to place, at low cost to property owners, solar panels

The Explorer 2000 Plus weighs 61.5 lbs and, combined with two PackPlus E2000 Plus battery packs, reaches over 145 pounds, offering a total of 6,000Wh.

The two companies signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding to build energy storage out of US-manufactured batteries, as well as "second-life" EV packs from GM's vehicles.

Robert Chryc-Gawrychowski, CEO of Northvolt Poland, states, "Northvolt set out to lead the sustainable development of Europe's battery industry. Lyten is carrying that mission forward with BESS manufacturing and the introduction of lithium-sulphur batteries in Europe, which replaces minerals like nickel, cobalt, manganese, and graphite, with locally abundant battery materials. Moreover, it is important and exciting that the factory in Gdansk, built for the production of energy storage systems, will continue its operations."

Even after years of use, electric vehicle batteries still retain usable capacity, allowing for their repurposing into stationary energy storage systems before recycling.

The proposed electrode material combines conduction, ion mobility, and self-healing properties, aiming to simplify the structure and efficiency of battery cathodes.

When the company that built an empire on lithium starts looking elsewhere, you know something big is happening.