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Thermal Energy Storage Is No Longer Just Hot Air

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As countries transition away from fossil fuels to green sources of energy like wind and solar, there will be natural lulls in energy production due to weather conditions. Energy consumption also tends to peak during early evening hours , which is inconveniently right when solar energy output decreases.

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New $30M ARPA-E program to develop new solar conversion and storage technologies; targeting higher solar penetration in mix

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Schematic comparing the cost and dispatchability of PV to CSP with thermal storage. The “PV+Storage” box includes the high cost of electrical storage for PV. The FOCUS Program target zone for electricity generation is indicated. a) Hybrid solar converter (award Categories 1A and 1B). Source: ARPA-E.

Solar 290
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California Energy Commission awards more than $5.5M for green transportation projects and $1.8M for 20 energy research projects

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Funds for these projects—which span areas as diverse as a new crossover valve for the split-cycle Tour Engine ( earlier post ) to a new solar thermal storage device capable of integration with utility scale solar thermal power plants—come from Commission’s Energy Innovations Small Grant (EISG) program.

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