Salt, air and bricks: could this be the future of energy storage?

Start-ups turn to heat over batteries as they aim to industrialise the practiceThink of battery ingredients and lithium, cadmium and nickel come to mind. Now think again. What about salt, air, bricks, and hand-warmer gel? In our electricity-hungry future they're set to provide heat to manufacturers who need it, and to help keep the lights on at times when energy is short.Energy storage has a dual purpose: it plugs gaps when the wind drops or the sun stops shining, and it allows users to buy cheap off-peak power and use it when they need it. Continue reading...