[Thorentis]

People need to realise that not all forms of renewable generation are good solutions in all parts of the world, just because they're renewable. I hate the "green energy" cults that shout you down for suggesting solar might be bad idea for these sorts of reasons.

[Hamuko]

Well, bad idea for now. If we can start storing up solar energy for the winter, then it might start making a lot of sense. The sand battery that can store thermal energy for months seems pretty interesting in this aspect.

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-61996520

[Retric]

Getting one discharge per year and being less than 30% efficient is a major limitation for any kind of construed thermal battery.

A more viable though still impractical approach is to store energy in rocks underground. Essentially trading the need for a multi km deep borehole for geothermal with the need to provide your own heat.