Cost-effective energy storage is key to transitioning to a low-carbon society. Energy can be stored in the form of heat or electricity. A popular storage method for high-temperature thermal applications is a molten salt tank. Fact sheets BVES for short, show that molten salt tanks are around 33 times less expensive than electric batteries when it comes to storing a kilowatt-hour in them.
The sensible heat of molten salt is also used for storing solar energy at a high temperature, termed molten-salt technology or molten salt energy storage (MSES). Molten salts can be employed as a thermal energy storage method to retain thermal energy. Presently, this is a commercially used technology to store the heat collected by concentrated solar power (e.g., from a solar power tower or solar trough). The heat can later be converted into superheated steam to power conventional steam turbines and generate electricity at a later time.
Molten salt (potassium and sodium nitrate mix) is used for energy storage due to its higher temperature capability and non-pressurized nature. It offers better environmental benefits than thermal oils, which can leak and require extensive cleanup. Salt can be heated to 600 °C without vapor pressure concerns, maximizing system efficiency. In the event of salt leakage, it hardens at ambient temperatures and poses no toxicity. Salt is cost-effective, has a long lifespan, and can be cycled for decades. The heated salt is pumped to a high-temperature tank at ~570 °C, while cooled salt goes to the cold tank at ~270 °C. Temperature losses are minimal. MAN MOSAS system durations are application-specific, typically lasting eight to 16 hours or more, depending on tank size.
Is very easy to extract salt and cheap., At the moment others use oil in thermal storage silos, there is many reasons not to do that, one of then is because we have salt that is more efficient in everyway.
It happens that something breaks and there is a leakage of oil this is bad not easy to clean op and is dangerous for the environment. Salt on the other hand don’t do any harm, except it is still very hot.
In theory we can get all the way down to 1 C temperature loss a day.
you can spend the heat to heat a whole city warm water from energy created 6 months ago, no problem. This means if the sun shining more then just once a month(Depending on use) you will have access heat. This can be converted to electricity and sold, to reduce energy waste.
