Thermochemical Energy Storage

Thermochemical energy storage holds energy through a reversible chemical reaction rather than through a temperature change or a phase change, the two mechanisms used by ordinary sensible and latent heat storage. Heat drives a decomposition reaction, such as the breakdown of potassium oxide between 300 and 800 degrees Celsius or of calcium hydroxide above 450 degrees Celsius, and the separated reaction products are stored apart until they are recombined later to release the stored heat. Because the energy is held in chemical bonds rather than as heat itself, thermochemical storage can reach higher storage density than latent heat storage and, when the materials are kept dry, can store energy for long periods with little loss, which suits it to seasonal storage. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/