Many researchers are working on studying climate change and limiting it. One of these studies addresses the effects of fossil fuels, which release carbon dioxide, and the search for alternatives. Solar-powered “hot rocks” are one of these alternatives, which is not considered an innovation, as ancient humans have used geothermal rocks for warming by setting them on fire until they reach the required temperature.

Antora Energy, a specialized company working in clean energy, has revived the use of this source, as heat is stored in rocks in large quantities sufficient to meet the energy needs of industry instead of fossil fuels.

The experts see this alternative as a revolutionary solution and a rising idea that will open up billion-dollar markets because it is based on heating rocks, not with coal and gas, but by absorbing solar heat using solar panels. It will provide energy to operate the biggest factories in the world, as it relies on low-cost renewables like the sun and wind used in the manufacture of batteries in cars and homes.

Within a box, the company arranges different types of rocks in a systematic pattern, raising the temperature to 1600 degrees Celsius—higher than the melting point of iron. The energy-storing capacity of hot rocks, which is ten times greater than that of lithium-ion batteries, is used in the production of automobile batteries.

The idea dates back to the 19th century when there were so-called “copper” stoves used in smelting factories. They were based on huge towers made of stacked bricks that absorbed the heat from the heating furnace until it reached about 3000 degrees Celsius and provided 100 megawatts of power for 20 minutes.

The world needs 240 terawatt-hours of stored energy to become carbon-free. As per experts, thermal batteries can provide half of the storage capacity for a carbon-free world due to their low cost and the abundance of raw materials needed to manufacture them.