Concrete, the most commonly used building material in the world, may soon play a pivotal role in energy storage, potentially transforming homes into massive batteries. Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard University’s Wyss Institute have developed a groundbreaking supercapacitor made from water, cement, and carbon black, a soot-like substance.
In a laboratory in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Damian Stefaniuk demonstrated the technology by powering an LED bulb with blocks of carbon-cement supercapacitors. The innovation could address one of the key challenges of renewable energy: storage. Unlike lithium-ion batteries, which rely on limited lithium supplies, carbon-cement supercapacitors offer a more sustainable alternative.
Supercapacitors charge rapidly and degrade less over time, although they release energy quickly, making them less suitable for devices requiring a steady power supply. Despite this, they hold promise for energy storage in buildings. Stefaniuk envisions future applications such as roads that wirelessly recharge electric cars and energy-storing house foundations.
Currently, the technology can store around 300 watt-hours per cubic meter of concrete, enough to power a 10-watt LED bulb for 30 hours. A foundation with 30-40 cubic meters of concrete could potentially meet the daily energy needs of a residential house. Although scaling up the technology poses challenges, the widespread use of concrete globally makes this innovation highly competitive.
The supercapacitors leverage the conductive properties of carbon black, creating networks of conductive material within the concrete. When soaked in potassium chloride, the carbon-cement forms capacitors that can store and release large amounts of energy quickly. This could alleviate the pressure on the energy grid during times when renewable sources like wind and solar are inactive.
Stefaniuk’s team has already demonstrated the potential of this technology by powering a handheld gaming device and plans to build larger versions capable of storing up to 10kWh of energy, enough to power a house for a day. While current supercapacitors discharge energy quickly, researchers are working on optimizing the mixture for a more steady output.
Despite the environmental impact of cement production, which accounts for 5-8% of global CO2 emissions, the potential of carbon-cement supercapacitors to reduce reliance on lithium and provide a sustainable energy storage solution is significant. Michael Short, from Teesside University’s Centre for Sustainable Engineering, emphasizes the importance of further research to scale this innovation from the lab to real-world applications.
This technology, combined with efforts to develop low-emissions cement, could lead to a future where buildings, roads, and homes contribute significantly to clean energy storage and usage.
Read more about this in the BBC article of Tom Ough under this link
Do You Want to Explore the Future of Sustainable Building? Join Our Key Industry Events.
Find out more about the future of building sustainably. Discover the latest in cement industry innovations, best practices, and decarbonization efforts at our upcoming events – join us to shape a greener world!
Dive into our calendar of events, featuring CarbonZero Global Conference and Exhibition 2024 in Madrid, Spain; Women in Cement and Construction International Congress and Sustainability and ESG International Summit 2024 in Madeira, Portugal.
Sign up to our newsletter on industrylink.eu to receive the latest news and future events info as well as exclusive discounts.
