From sunlight to stored power: how hot air could solve solar energy’s biggest challenge

EU-funded researchers are looking to hot air to overcome the supply and demand issues faced by solar energy and ease the clean energy transition.

By Michael Allen

As the world shifts toward renewable energy, one major challenge remains: efficient energy storage. An EU-funded research team is exploring the use of compressed air to store excess energy collected from solar panels. 

A pilot plant at Plataforma Solar de Almería, a solar