Monash University researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery in energy storage that could accelerate the global shift to renewable energy.
Their new material, called a trimodal thermal energy storage (TES) system, has the potential to store energy more effectively, cheaply, and sustainably than ever before.
The study, published on December 18 in Nature, outlines how this innovation could solve a major problem in renewable energy—how to store large amounts of energy efficiently and at a low cost.
What is the trimodal system?
The material combines three types of energy storage in a single system, making it more efficient than existing solutions. It stores heat in three ways:
- Sensible Heat: As the material warms, it absorbs energy.
- Melting Transition: During melting, energy is stored in the form of latent heat.
- Chemical Reaction: A reversible reaction occurs, storing additional energy that can be reused repeatedly without the material breaking down.
The trimodal TES material is made from two key ingredients—boric acid and succinic acid. Boric acid is a common, flame-resistant material found in boron ores, and succinic acid is a bio-based chemical that comes from renewable sources.
Both are inexpensive and environmentally friendly, making the new material sustainable and cost-effective.
The material can store an incredible amount of energy—600 megajoules per cubic meter—almost double the capacity of many current energy storage materials. It also works at a temperature of about 150°C and can handle over 1,000 heating and cooling cycles without losing efficiency.
“This material is a huge step forward in storing heat energy,” said Dr. Karolina Matuszek, lead author of the study and a researcher at Monash University. “By combining three forms of energy storage in one system, we’ve created a solution that could make renewable energy more reliable.”
The trimodal TES material could play a vital role in advancing Carnot battery technology. Carnot batteries store electricity by converting it to heat, which is stored and later converted back to electricity when needed.
The new material’s ability to store heat so effectively makes it an ideal fit for this technology, which is considered a key innovation for renewable energy storage.
One of the biggest challenges with renewable energy sources like wind and solar is their inconsistency—they don’t always produce energy when it’s needed. By making it easier to store large amounts of energy sustainably, this new material could help stabilize renewable energy supplies and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
What’s even more exciting is that the materials used are both widely available and affordable. Unlike lithium-ion batteries, which rely on scarce and expensive metals, the trimodal TES system is based on sustainable materials, making it a greener solution.
“This innovation is about more than just storing energy,” said Dr. Matuszek. “It’s about creating a storage system that is scalable, affordable, and truly sustainable.”
This breakthrough brings us one step closer to a future powered entirely by renewable energy, making the dream of a decarbonized world more achievable than ever.
