Scientists at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have announced the development of a prototype battery capable of “freezing” in order to store energy with minimal discharge until it can be “thawed” when the energy is needed once more, which could serve as an important tool for increasing the resilience of the power grid. This capability is a critical step in making intermittent energy sources, such as solar or wind, into a reliable and consistent option for regular households. Utilities can also store large amounts of power to be used in emergencies, such as in the aftermath of a natural disaster that creates difficulties in restarting the generation of energy.

The science behind the prototype battery revolves around the use of molten salt as an electrolyte, which is solid at room temperature, but liquid when at 180 degrees Celsius. The battery is charged at this higher temperature, allowed to cool in order to “lock” the energy in the now-solid electrolyte for long-term storage, and is reheated when the battery is needed. The team behind the prototype prioritized the use of common materials during their research, citing the need to reduce battery costs in order to make widespread use viable. Read more at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.