Rechargeable cement-based concrete batteries

Research Project, 2017 – 2019

This project intends to develop rechargeable cement-based concrete batteries to make the buildings more energy efficient and sustainable. Cement-based concrete is by volume the most widely used solid material in the world. The hardened cement paste in concrete contains some 30 vol% alkaline water with pH 13.5-14 even under normal dry conditions and can therefore, be taken as a gel type of electrolyte for building a battery with proper construction of electrodes. The cement-based concrete batteries have huge advantages such as greater storage for solar energi and adequate power when in emergency. Moreover, cement as a raw material is much cheaper than any other raw material used in conventional batteries. Even though the energy stored by these batteries are lower than conventional ones, due to the huge volume of cement in a building, they can store and release considerable amount of energy. The project is carried out in a close collaboration between Chalmers, Swerea SICOMP and Universit