The US Department of Energy is supporting a project to store energy in heated sand, with a capacity to produce 135 MW of power for five days. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is working on a commercial-scale system that can retain 95% of its heat for at least five days. The pilot demonstration project, funded with $4 million, aims to showcase the technology’s commercial potential. Babcock & Wilcox has exclusive rights to negotiate a licensing agreement, and other energy storage technologies like compressed air energy storage and pumped storage projects are also being developed. Hydrogen storage in salt caverns is an option for seasonal energy storage.
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2024/04/04/us-government-funds-pilot-project-for-heated-sand-energy-storage/