In a remote corner of Central Sardinia, a surprising innovation is taking shape that could have a major impact on the fight against climate change. Despite its rugged and arid landscape, the town of Ottana is home to a groundbreaking technology that could revolutionize the way we store renewable energy.
Energy Dome, a start-up based in Milan, has set up an energy-storage demonstration plant on the site of a former petrochemical plant in Ottana. The key component of this technology? Carbon dioxide, the very gas responsible for global warming.
The concept is simple yet ingenious: during the day, when there is an excess of electricity from solar cells in the area, the carbon dioxide is compressed into liquid using electricity from the grid. At night, the liquid carbon dioxide is expanded back into gas, driving a turbine to produce electricity that is then sent back to the grid.
This innovative approach to energy storage could help address the intermittent nature of renewable energy sources like solar and wind power. As the world looks to transition away from fossil fuels, the development of effective energy-storage technologies is crucial.
While Energy Dome’s carbon dioxide battery is just one of many creative solutions being developed, experts emphasize the urgency of advancing these technologies. With the need to decarbonize electricity on a rapid timeline, the future of energy storage is more important than ever.
As the world grapples with the challenges of climate change, innovations like the one in Ottana offer a glimmer of hope for a more sustainable future. The potential of this technology, and others like it, to help combat global warming cannot be understated.
