Thermal properties making “firebricks” suitable for energy storage could speed up the world’s transition to renewable energy. The technology involves assembling heat-absorbing bricks in an insulated container, where they store heat generated by solar or wind power for later use at temperatures required for industrial processes. The heat can then be released when needed by passing air through channels in the stacks of “firebricks,” allowing cement, steel, glass, and paper factories to run on renewable energy even when wind and sunshine are unavailable. The difference between firebrick storage and battery storage is that the firebricks store heat rather than electricity and are one-tenth the cost of batteries.
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