After home batteries, could the humble water heater be the next big step forward?

After home batteries proved the value of shifting electrical demand, a new frontier is emerging: the water heater. According to Ed Langham at the University of Technology Sydney, a new program encouraging electric hot water systems could slash household costs and reduce emissions. The insight: water heaters function as thermal batteries, allowing households to heat water when renewable energy is abundant and use it later—easing peak grid stress and reducing fossil fuel generation.

Listen to this story

Hear this and more stories in a personalized audio briefing.

Open The Chonkerton