Wind turbines are one of the most effective ways of harvesting renewable energy to generate power. However, recently a startup highlighted the possibility of battery storage within the turbines. Yes, Sinonus says wind turbine blades can work as batteries.
Sinonus, a Swedish start-up, has discovered a way to store excess power generated by wind turbines that can be stored in their structure itself. Their main approach is to design fiber structures of various objects, buildings, and vehicles for energy storage. This is because power does not take up extra space or increase weight when stored.
Known as structural batteries, they are made up with a technology which serves as an electrode, load-bearing material, and a conductor, simultaneously. These batteries have been developed by Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg researchers.

Sinonus is a spin-off from the university that uses the same ultralight carbon fiber material which was earlier used by NASA for their Ingenuity helicopter on Mars. Researchers agree that it may not be the most feasible and as efficient as traditional Li-ion batteries. However, the material is being used for its load-bearing capacity. The potential of this technology has been displayed by the company by replacing AAA batteries in low-power products in their lab.
Scientists are transforming CO2 into solid carbon nanofibers through catalytic combos.
To meet the increasing demand of energy storage devices, G7 countries have pledged to support the development of 1.5 TW of global energy storage capacity by 2030. This will be 6 times the current capacity. This will help in supporting the goal to triple the renewable capacity by the end of the decade.
Sinonus is working in another area too where they are storing electricity in EV’s carbon fiber bodies. The company also highlights the potential of integrating large-scale batteries into building fabrics. This could provide more design freedom and save space.
Source: Sinonus