Stores heat. Distributes engery in the form of hot water.
Fine but how do you really utilize that energy? Cannot use it to drive turbines....
Back yard hasha, firewood heated sand/hot water.
From the article: "When this sand is heated up, using a simple heat ex-changer buried in the middle of it, this device is capable of storing an impressive 8 megawatt-hours of energy, at a nominal power rating of 100 kW, with the sand heated to somewhere around 500-600 degrees Celsius (932-1112 °F).
I want one in my driveway.