Alphabet could soon be competing with Tesla in renewable energy storage
Alphabet’s secretive research lab X is developing a new way to store renewable energy that otherwise might be wasted — by using salt and anti-freeze, reports Bloomberg. Researchers are developing a system that can be located anywhere, has the potential to last longer than lithium-ion batteries, and compete on price with new hydroelectric plants and other energy storage methods.
“If the moonshot factory gives up on a big, important problem like climate change, then maybe it will never get solved,” Obi Felten, a director at X told Bloomberg. “If we do start solving it, there are trillions and trillions of dollars in market opportunity.” The project is codenamed “Malta,” but isn’t an official X project yet, so it doesn’t currently enjoy…