# Thermochemical storage

Reversible reactions that soak up heat and give it back later.

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_thermochem_store/

Storage · Chemical · No. 90

- Storage
- Duration: Days to seasons
 Storage · Chemical · Foundation · Energy

Heat split into two chemicals and kept apart leaks almost nothing, so summer sunshine could warm a home in winter.

Chart: Illustration: Thermochemical storage

##### Where it comes from

Chart: Map of where it comes from

Heat drives a reaction apart, such as lime from CO2 or a salt from water vapour; calcium looping holds 390 to 490 kWh per tonne of limestone.

##### Three things to know

1. A typical West European home needs about 7 to 12 GJ of seasonal heat, roughly 10 m3 of reactor at 1 GJ per m3.
2. Natural limestone wears out fast in calcium looping, with one model assuming only 7.5% stays reactive.
3. Adding 10% iron oxide to manganese oxide raised its re-oxidation from 6% to 100%, a key research fix.

##### The journey

1. 1 **Heat in**Solar heat or cheap electricity
2. 2 **Split**Compound breaks into two parts
3. 3 **Store apart**Kept separate at room temperature
4. 4 **Recombine**Products react again, releasing heat
5. 5 **Heat out**Winter home heating or industrial heat

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## Other sections

- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_thermochem_store/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_thermochem_store/correlation/index.md)
- [Science and technology](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_thermochem_store/sg-sci/index.md)
- [Engineering and performance](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_thermochem_store/sg-eng/index.md)
- [Economics](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_thermochem_store/sg-econ/index.md)
- [Impact and additionality](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_thermochem_store/sg-impact/index.md)
- [What to track](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_thermochem_store/tracking/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_thermochem_store/links/index.md)