Does HT Finland have a sand battery?

HT Finland has activated the world's largest sand battery in Pornainen, storing excess renewable energy as heat to power an entire town’s heating needs. The system cuts heating emissions by nearly 70%, using soapstone as a low-cost, long-duration thermal storage medium.

Can a sand battery save Finland's energy?

The world’s largest sand battery is online and ready to make the most of Finland's renewable energy. Once fully operational, this giant device is expected to cut carbon-equivalent emissions from the local heating network by about 160 tons each year, slashing the district’s heating emissions by nearly 70 percent.

Is the Pornainen battery Finland's first foray into sandy storage?

The Pornainen battery isn’t Finland’s first foray into sandy storage. In 2022, Polar Night Energy launched a smaller prototype in Kankaanpää, just as Russia cut off gas supplies. The timing made a strong case for homegrown, renewable energy solutions. Engineers and co-founders Markku Ylönen and Tommi Eronen came up with the idea in 2018.

What is Finland's sand battery movement?

From backyard brainstorms to international headlines, Finland’s sand battery movement is proving that sometimes the simplest materials can offer the smartest solutions. Finland's sand battery stores renewable energy as heat using crushed soapstone, helping one town slash emissions and eliminate oil from its heating system.