A MWh-grade high-temperature solid particle thermal storage pilot device – China's first "sand thermal battery" – located at the Dalu Industrial Park in Ordos' Juungar Banner, has been operating nonstop for one month, marking the success of the trial run.

Jointly developed by Tsinghua University and the Ordos Laboratory, the "sand thermal battery" utilizes sand and other solid particles as energy storage media, converting new energy power into thermal energy. This marks a groundbreaking innovation in China. 

During the trial period, the maximum temperature reached the anticipated target, meeting the stringent demands for high-temperature heat sources in industrial applications and providing a solid foundation for future commercial deployment.

Compared to conventional molten salt energy storage systems, the "sand thermal battery" offers superior thermal energy efficiency, enhanced stability, and significantly lower costs. 

Using Ordos' abundant wind and solar resources, along with its nearly 25 million kilowatts of installed new energy capacity, the "sand thermal battery" can function as a heat bank, efficiently storing solar and wind energy for on-demand power supply. It promotes the local consumption of green energy, offering a new solution for efficient, clean energy utilization nationwide and advancing the "dual carbon" goals.

"The 36MW/180MWh 'sand thermal battery' project can supply 80,000 metric tons of steam, save 11,500 tons of standard coal, reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 30,000 tons, and deliver environmental benefits equivalent to those of 4,000 mu (266 hectares) of forest per year," said Wei Fei, director of the Ordos Laboratory.