Solar Thermochemical Energy Storage

Thermochemical energy storage is the next step in creating a self-sustaining society because it allows for energy supply to meet the electricity demand. Chemical bonds provide much higher storage capacities than the conventional energy storage methods; renewable storage schemes with greater energy storage density will potentially have a faster path to economic viability.

A potential thermochemical storage cycle lies in the carbonation/decomposition of SrO/SrCO₃. It offers the prospect of capturing thermal energy and releasing it at temperatures above 1200°C.  One of the fundamental aspects of the project depends on the amount of surface area of the physical structure. To obtain an optimal amount of surface area, the current project involves creating a matrix through the mixing of heat treated SrO and decomposition of sacrificial carbon. The temperatures at which the SrO is being heat treated varied along with the size of the particles being used; also the ratio and size of the carbon particles are being varied to find the optimal structure with the most surface area.