Tapping the unlimited power supplied by nature may have a smoother path to our homes with the creation of thermal blocks that can heat and cool on demand.

Traditional electricity grids have struggled with the complex challenges presented by renewable energy due to its intermittent and variable nature.

Australian startup MGA Thermal says it has created a thermal energy storage solution to solve these issues, allowing grid operators to store a huge amount of energy as heat in a safe and relatively simple way.

While traditional power generation from fossil fuels such as coal can be readily matched to demand, attention is rapidly shifting to cleaner energy sources to reduce the threat of climate change and the pollution fossil fuels generate.

Renewable energy sources such as solar and wind, however, are highly dependent on weather conditions, and these fluctuations can create a mismatch between electricity supply and demand that can overload or create a shortfall in power supply.

A number of different technologies are being investigated for use in intermittent storage systems, including battery storage systems, pumped hydro and compressed air.

MGA Thermal’s solution is based on blocks (pictured above) made from metal alloy particles that melt as they are heated, absorbing energy. The energy is stored in the solid-to-liquid phase change and then released as the blocks cool and the particles become solid again.

The shoebox-sized thermal blocks, called Miscibility Gap Alloys (MGA), are designed to store clean energy as heat to either use as green steam in industry or continuously power the electricity grid.

They could also be retrofitted to existing coal-fired power stations, potentially preventing their closure, says MGA Thermal.