Buildings to store energy using innovative concrete-based battery

05 Jul 2021 CW Team

Sweden's battery research by scientists focused on making batteries that can both store energy and serve as structural components for buildings.

The team demonstrated a novel cement-based battery that could allow for the construction of large structures made of functional concrete.

The study was carried out at the Chalmers University of Technology, where researchers were working on developing more environmentally friendly building materials, with a focus on concrete, the world's most widely used and energy-intensive material.

This novel concept is based on previous concrete-based battery designs that, according to the researchers, performed poorly in tests. They developed the rechargeable design, which they describe as a world-first concept, after much experimentation, and it appears to be promising.

The team's battery begins with a cement-based mixture that is similar to regular concrete but contains small amounts of short carbon fibres for flexural strength and conductivity. Two carbon fibre meshes, one coated in nickel to act as the battery's cathode and the other covered in iron to act as the anode, are also included in the mix. These transport electrons back and forth as the device is charged and discharged, acting as the battery's electrodes.

According to the team, the concrete-based battery has a 7Wh per square metre of material energy density, which is over ten-fold higher than previous concrete-based batteries. However, it is still far less powerful than commercial batteries, but because it is made of concrete, which can be scaled up to form massive structures, it may be able to compensate for this.

Image Source

Also read: Jamia Milia Islamia, AMU invent eco-friendly cement using waste

Also read: Magicrete introduces lightweight concrete ALC wall panels

Infrastructure Energy

17 Dec 2025

Vedanta Aluminium Uses 1.57 bn Units of Green Energy in FY25

Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest aluminium producer, recently reported consumption of 1.57 billion units of renewable energy in FY25, marking a significant milestone in its 2030 decarbonisation roadmap. The company also achieved an 8.96 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity compared to FY21, reinforcing its leadership in India’s low-carbon manufacturing transition. During FY25, Vedanta Aluminium expanded its renewable energy portfolio through long-term power purchase agreements, strengthening its strategy to source nearly 1,500 MW of renewable power over the lon..

Oberoi Group to Develop Luxury Resort at Makaibari Tea Estate

EIH Limited, the flagship company of The Oberoi Group, has announced the signing of a management agreement to develop an Oberoi luxury resort at the iconic Makaibari Tea Estate in Darjeeling. The project marks a key milestone in the Group’s long-term strategy of creating distinctive hospitality experiences in rare and environmentally significant locations. Established in 1859, Makaibari is one of the world’s oldest tea estates and is globally recognised for its Himalayan landscape, primary forests and exceptional biodiversity. Spread across 1,236 acres, the estate houses one of the world�..

GHV Infra Secures Rs 1.09 Bn EPC Order in Jamshedpur

GHV Infra Projects Ltd, a fast-growing EPC company in India’s infrastructure and construction sector, has recently secured a Rs 1.09 billion work order in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand. Awarded by a reputed group entity, the contract covers end-to-end civil construction, mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) systems, along with high-quality finishing works for a large building development. The project will be executed over a 30-month period, with defined benchmarks for quality, safety and timely delivery. The order strengthens GHV Infra’s footprint in Jamshedpur, a key industrial hub known fo..