Exploring Advanced Materials for High-Temperature Energy Storage

At Sunson, we’re excited to share cutting-edge research that supports the future of renewable energy storage. Our latest work focuses on metallic phase change materials (PCMs), which are key to storing thermal energy at extremely high temperatures — ideal for applications like concentrated solar power (CSP) plants.

Why PCMs? PCMs are substances that can absorb and release large amounts of heat when they melt and solidify. This makes them perfect for storing energy from intermittent sources like solar power, ensuring a steady energy supply even when the sun isn’t shining.

The Challenge Most PCMs operate well at low to moderate temperatures, but the need for more efficient systems has pushed us to explore materials that can withstand temperatures above 1000°C. These high-performance PCMs can store more energy and release it more effectively, helping us get closer to achieving sustainable, large-scale solar energy storage.

Our Approach: The Sunson team, led by researchers such as the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, has been investigating different metal alloys like FeSiB, FeSiCr, and FeSiMn. These materials were selected through advanced simulations and then tested to see how well they perform under high temperatures. The results have been promising, showing that these alloys have the potential to revolutionize thermal energy storage.

What’s Next? We continue refining our research to ensure these materials meet all the requirements for long-term, safe, and efficient energy storage. By optimizing PCMs for CSP plants, we’re helping pave the way toward a greener, more reliable energy future.

Stay tuned for more updates as we push the boundaries of energy storage technology! For more details don´t miss the abstract presented in the TPV-15 conference: : (go to the link in which we find the Methalic phase change materials for high temperature application).