A major revolution is coming in the field of renewable energy storage. The giant carbon dioxide balloon launched by Energy Dome in Wisconsin, USA, has the capacity to power 18,000 homes for 10 hours. This giant energy storage system uses a highly innovative method to store electrical energy: carbon dioxide (CO2).

A giant carbon dioxide-powered energy balloon in the US will power 18,000 homes for 10 hours

The project is called the Columbia Energy Storage Project and it compresses carbon dioxide to store electricity from renewable energy sources. This compressed CO2 is then expanded and converted back into energy.

What’s more, the CO2 can be continuously recycled, meaning the system is reusable and environmentally friendly. This process can store energy for much longer than traditional lithium-ion batteries; lithium-ion batteries typically have a capacity of 4 hours, while this system can store energy for 24 hours.

The project has received a $7 million grant from the US Department of Energy and is expected to be fully operational in 2027. The system will store energy, especially from irregular energy sources such as wind and sun, and use it uninterruptedly when needed. So, even if the wind doesn’t blow or the sun goes down, this giant energy bubble will continue to power homes.

Providing both economic and ecological benefits, the project could be an important step towards reducing power outages and using renewable energy more efficiently in the future. Do you think carbon dioxide balloons could be the future of energy storage? Let us know in the comments section below.