Energy storage

A method for storing energy comprising the steps:

• a) thermally charging a thermal storage body comprising a plurality of thermal storage blocks arranged in direct contact to form an integrated structure having an exterior and an interior and at least one heat transfer channel extending within the interior of the integrated structure formed by the thermal storage blocks inside of the thermal storage body, wherein the plurality of thermal storage blocks are formed from a miscibility gap alloy, by heating at least one heating device adjacent to one or more of the plurality of thermal storage blocks;
• b) storing the thermal energy in the plurality of thermal storage blocks by substantially insulating and sealing the thermal storage body comprised therefrom, from the outside atmosphere;
• and
• c) thermally discharging heat from the thermal storage body by flowing a heat transfer fluid of a lower temperature in the at least one heat transfer channel such that heat is removed from the at least one thermal transfer block.

A system for storing energy comprising the following unit operations:

• at least one energy source;
• at least one energy storage device comprising:
• at least one heating device;
• a thermal storage body comprising a plurality of thermal storage blocks arranged in direct contact to form an integrated structure having an exterior and an interior and at least one heat transfer channel extending within the interior of the integrated structure formed by the thermal storage blocks inside of the thermal storage body, wherein the plurality of thermal storage blocks are formed from a miscibility gap alloy, wherein the at least one heat transfer channel is adapted to receive heat transfer fluid flow and/or the at least one heating device;
• thermal insulation surrounding the thermal storage body such that the thermal storage body is substantially thermally insulated;
• and at least one substantially impermeable shell surrounding the thermal storage body and/or the thermal insulation such that the heat transfer fluid is substantially contained, wherein heat can be charged or discharged from the thermal storage body by thermal transfer between the at least one heat transfer channel and the plurality of thermal storage blocks;
• at least one pumping means;
• and
• at least one heat transfer and/or energy conversion means, wherein the unit operations are in fluid communication with each other such that the system forms at least one fluid pass for transferring thermal energy therebetween.