Homes into giant batteries: MIT plans energy cement to power your house

Developed by researchers at MIT and Harvard, this innovation takes three readily available ingredients – cement, water, and a soot-like substance called carbon black – and transforms them into energy storage devices. 

Stefaniuk vividly recalls the moment, saying, “At first I didn’t believe it,” while describing the first time an LED lit up with power sourced from their concrete supercapacitor.

While not quite a replacement for traditional batteries, these supercapacitors offer a unique set of advantages that could revolutionize how we power our lives.

From common materials to energy storage

The key to the concrete supercapacitor lies in its unique composition. By combining cement with conductive carbon black, the researchers created a material riddled with microscopic pathways for electricity.

These pathways allow the supercapacitor to store large amounts of energy rapidly, making it ideal for capturing excess power from renewable sources like solar and wind.

“A simple example would be an off-grid house powered by solar panels,” explains Stefaniuk.

“Using solar energy directly during the day and the energy stored in, for example, the foundations during the night,” added Stefaniuk, as quoted by BBC.

This ability to capture and release energy rapidly is particularly valuable for intermittent renewable sources. Unlike the Sun, which doesn’t always shine, or the wind, which doesn’t always blow, solar and wind farms can produce surges of electricity that go to waste if not stored. 

Traditional batteries, reliant on materials like lithium, pose environmental concerns and face supply limitations. Stefaniuk’s breakthrough introduces a compelling alternative – carbon-cement supercapacitors.

Concrete supercapacitors could act as a buffer, soaking up this excess energy and releasing it back into the grid when needed.

Building a more sustainable future

The potential applications of this technology extend far beyond off-grid houses. It can lead to roads embedded with supercapacitors that wirelessly charge electric vehicles as they drive. Additionally, buildings could be constructed with energy-storing foundations. It will contribute to a more resilient and sustainable electrical grid.

However, there are certain challenges, too. Concrete supercapacitors currently discharge energy quickly, making them unsuitable for applications requiring steady power output.

Additionally, there’s the environmental impact of cement production, a significant source of carbon dioxide emissions.

“The research opens many interesting potential avenues,” says Dr. Michael Short, a sustainable engineering expert at Teesside University in the UK. “But more research is needed to address the challenges of scaling this technology up and mitigating its environmental footprint.”

Despite these hurdles, the concrete supercapacitor presents a glimpse into a future where our built environment actively contributes to a cleaner, more sustainable world. With continued research and development, these innovative “building block” batteries could pave the way for a more resilient and renewable energy future.

The research was published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.