Molten salt and human sweat: the weird batteries that could store renewable energy

A wave of unusual battery projects is being tested in different parts of the world as developers search for better ways to store renewable power and deliver it when the sun is not shining and the wind is not blowing.

According to a monitored public feed from The Guardian Business, one of the most ambitious examples is under way in the deserts of the United Arab Emirates. There, a large clean energy site spanning an area said to be roughly the size of 12,600 football fields is being used to support a system designed to keep solar electricity available overnight. The project pairs 5.2GW of solar capacity with 19GWh of battery storage, which the report says makes it the largest battery scheme in the world. The system is intended to allow solar energy to supply the equivalent of half a million homes through the night.

The feed summary describes this effort as part of a wider push to solve one of clean energy’s most persistent problems: how to store power cheaply and at scale. The article points to trial projects from Nevada to Manchester that are exploring unconventional approaches, including molten salt and even human sweat, in the search for more effective storage technologies.

Such experimental systems reflect the pressure on energy developers to find alternatives to conventional batteries, especially as countries expand renewable generation. Solar and wind power can produce large amounts of electricity, but output is variable, and storage is needed to balance supply with demand after sunset or during calm periods. The projects mentioned in the feed suggest that researchers and developers are casting a wide net, testing materials and methods that would once have sounded far outside the mainstream.

The United Arab Emirates project stands out because of its scale. By combining massive solar generation with substantial storage, the site is being positioned as a model for how renewable electricity can be made more reliable around the clock. The battery capacity cited in the report indicates a focus not just on generating clean power, but on preserving it for use when it is needed most.

The broader significance of the report lies in the variety of approaches now being explored. From the desert installation to smaller pilot efforts in other cities, the energy sector appears to be moving beyond a single battery solution and toward a more experimental phase. The Guardian Business report, as reflected in the monitored feed, presents these developments as part of a global effort to make renewable power practical at larger and more dependable levels.

This article is based on a monitored public feed and attributes the underlying reporting to The Guardian Business.

Source: The Guardian Business - https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jul/19/molten-salt-human-sweat-weird-batteries-store-renewable-energy