250MWh 'Sand Battery' to start construction in Finland
Recorded: Nov. 28, 2025, 1:02 a.m.
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250MWh 'Sand Battery' to start construction in Finland, for both heating and ancillary services - Energy-Storage.News Skip to content Solar Media
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News 250MWh ‘Sand Battery’ to start construction in Finland, for both heating and ancillary services By Cameron Murray November 26, 2025 Europe Grid Scale, Distributed Technology
Polar Night Energy and Lahti Energia are partnering on the Sand Battery project in Finland. Image: Polar Night Energy / Lahti Energia. Technology provider Polar Night Energy and utility Lahti Energia have partnered for a large-scale project using Polar’s ‘Sand Battery’ technology for the latter’s district heating network in Vääksy, Finland. Try Premium for just $1 Full premium access for the first month at only $1 Start $1 Trial Premium Benefits Expert industry analysis and interviews Or get the full Premium subscription right away Or continue reading this article for free Get Basic (FREE) Subscription The project will cut fossil-based emissions in the Vääksy district heating network by around 60% each year, by reducing natural gas use bu 80% and also decreasing wood chip consumption.
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ancillary services, district heating, EnergyStorageEurope, finland, heat battery, sand battery, thermal energy storage
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The construction of a 250MWh ‘Sand Battery’ is underway in Finland, a collaborative project between Polar Night Energy and Lahti Energia. This ambitious undertaking aims to provide district heating services to Lahti Energia’s Vääksy network, while simultaneously participating in Fingrid’s reserve and grid balancing markets. The project utilizes Polar Night Energy’s proprietary ‘Sand Battery’ technology, which involves heating a large volume of sand to store thermal energy. Subsequently, this stored heat can be discharged for either industrial or heating applications. This particular system boasts a 125-hour duration, making it the largest sand-based thermal energy storage project currently in development. The core of the operation will utilize locally sourced natural sand, contained within a container measuring 14 meters high and 15 meters wide. The project’s overall power output is slated at 2MW, highlighting its substantial contribution to the local energy landscape. The initiative has received a grant from Business Finland, underscoring its strategic importance. Jouni Haikarainen, CEO of Lahti Energia, emphasizes the project's dual purpose: supplying affordable district heating and leveraging renewable energy sources. Furthermore, the Sand Battery's capacity to participate in Fingrid’s market operations is viewed as crucial for balancing electricity supply and demand, particularly given the increasing reliance on weather-dependent renewable energy sources. Polar Night Energy will serve as the primary contractor, with construction commencing in early 2026, culminating in completion during the summer of 2027. This project builds upon Polar Night Energy’s earlier success with a 1MW/100MWh Sand Battery TES project at Loviisan Lämpö, which deployed soapstone as its storage medium – a byproduct of ceramics production. The ‘Sand Battery’ reflects a strategic approach towards utilizing readily available resources and contributing to a more resilient energy system. |