We have a vision to revolutionize the energy storage market by offering sustainable, efficient, and scalable solutions based on sand battery technology. The idea was born from the realization that energy storage is a key factor in the transition to renewable energy and that there is a lack of robust solutions for long-term and cost-effective storage.
The company K-mit AB has been developing sustainable technological solutions since 2014, focusing on apps, websites, and digital systems. In recent years, the company has shifted its focus to the development of the sand battery, and with support from the Swedish Energy Agency (Energimyndigheten), we have had the opportunity to construct a prototype within the projects "Microgrid with sand battery" (2023) and
"High temperature heat pumps for thermo batteries" (2024).
To take the sand battery from prototype to commercial implementation, we have now established Grounded Heat AB, which has fully taken over the development and scaling of the technology.
We are based in Hässelby, Stockholm – feel free to visit us if you're interested in learning more!
The project team core consists of the following people:
Pontus Kindblad – An Experienced Technical Project Manager in Web and System Development and the Brain Behind the Innovation
Pontus has nearly thirty years of experience in digital problem-solving and technical project management.
He has held roles as a programmer, CTO, Data Protection Officer, IT architect, Privacy by Design specialist, web strategist, Technical Director, technical project manager, Head of R&D, teacher, and even a stuntman.
Pontus has founded several companies and is one of the co-founders of K-mit AB, where the prototype for the sand battery was developed. He was also one of the founders of Sweden’s first digital advertising agency in the early 2000s and has won several awards, including 2 Grand Prix, 2 Gold and Silver Lions at Cannes Cyber Lions, and a Gold Star for "Most Innovative Technical Solution."
In the sand battery project, he has overall responsibility for leading the team's work. He is also actively involved in further development and optimization of the technology for efficient and sustainable energy storage.
Maria Olsson – Civil Engineer with Expertise in Environmental Technology and Sustainability
Maria Olsson is a civil engineer with a degree in Ecosystem Engineering with a specialization in Energy Systems from Lund University of Technology. She has deepened her knowledge through courses in solar energy and life cycle analysis and has always had a strong commitment to sustainable development and environmental issues.
With a background in environmental technology, Maria has continued to explore sustainable solutions, which has led her to work in research funding with a focus on marine energy technology and solar energy.
Today, Maria works with investment grants for initiatives that contribute to cost-effective emission reductions. Through her work, she helps companies and organizations implement solutions that reduce climate impact and promote a sustainable future.
In the sand battery project, her role is to oversee sustainability strategies and regulatory affairs.
Christoffer Möckelind – Specialist in Data, AI, and Control Systems
Christoffer Möckelind is a civil engineer in computer science and energy technology, playing a central role in the sand battery project as a data specialist and lead programmer.
After graduating from KTH, Christoffer worked in Stockholm's dynamic startup scene, where he developed solutions across a range of technical fields, focusing on AI, data analysis, and systems development. His experience spans everything from machine learning and advanced software development to the integration of digital systems in physical products.
In addition to his background in software development, Christoffer has also worked as a service technician for industrial 3D printers, which has given him a deep understanding of both hardware and software in technical systems.
In the sand battery project, he is responsible for the development of electronic solutions and the programming of the control system, enabling intelligent temperature regulation, efficient energy storage, and advanced data analysis. His technical expertise is crucial for optimizing the sand battery's performance and ensuring that the system functions seamlessly and efficiently in practical applications.
Paul Griffin – Technical Expert with a Focus on Simulation and Optimization
Paul is a trained engineer with a background in technical physics from KTH. He has extensive experience in advanced technology and systems development, and his role in the sand battery project is to oversee the continued technical development by conducting simulations and airflow analyses within the sand battery, which is crucial for optimizing heat distribution and energy efficiency.
Over the years, he has worked in roles as a systems developer and software engineer, gaining experience in developing applications. Paul has a long history of advanced modeling and analysis of thermal systems. His work in understanding and improving airflow within the sand battery contributes to developing more efficient and scalable solutions for energy storage.
His deep understanding of thermodynamics, materials science, and energy storage has played a central role in creating a sustainable and effective solution.
Susanne Kindblad – An experienced Project Manager with a Focus on Digital Development and Innovation
Susanne has a solid background in business management, project governance, and digital development. She studied at Stockholm University, focusing on media and communication studies, and has held several leadership roles throughout her career, including CEO, project manager, web strategist, Data Protection Officer (DPO), and HR manager.
With extensive experience in starting and running businesses, Susanne is one of the co-founders of K-mit AB, the company currently developing the sand battery. In the sand battery project, she is responsible for finance and project management, ensuring that the development is carried out efficiently and sustainably – from planning and resource allocation to implementation and follow-up.
Her broad experience and strategic capabilities make her a key figure in the work to take the sand battery from innovation to a scalable and commercially viable energy solution.
Marcus Nordgren – Project Electrician and Specialist in Mechanics
Marcus is a versatile technician with broad expertise in both electrical systems and mechanics. With a background as a trained electrician and experience as a facility technician, he has a solid understanding of system integration and practical solutions.
In addition to his technical skills, he also has a background as a chef, which has enhanced his ability to work in a structured and solution-oriented manner under pressure.
In the sand battery project, Marcus plays a key role by combining his expertise in electrical installations and mechanics to ensure that the system functions optimally. He is a dedicated problem solver who embraces challenges and works proactively to drive the project forward with innovative and practical solutions. With his hands-on approach and technical skills, he is an invaluable part of the team.
We generally want to put heat down in the sand as quickly as possibly, which means we want the air to be as hot as possible. However, if the air becomes too hot we may damage or destroy components. We considered multiple options, but mainly investigated whether to use a PID controller or a thermostat controller. A thermostat controller is similar to what you have in the radiators in your home, and a PID controller, is one of the most common types of controller algorithms out there, controlling everything from Space ships to RC cars.
Due to its simplicity and because it’s tuning is much more intuitive, we decided to use a thermostat controller to operate the heater array. A PID could potentially have been more accurate in keeping the air in the heater at 650 C, but the complexity of its tuning caused us to settle for the thermostat controller. Future experimentation will determine if we need to revise this decision or not.
For those of you who haven’t worked with thermostat controllers before, you start off with specifying two parameters, an off temperature T_off, and a lower on temperature, T_on. When the T_off is reached, the radiator array is turned off. When the temperature has then dropped to T_on, the heater is turned on again. In our experiments with the sand battery, this controller has provided a sufficient level of control accuracy.
Sand battery as part of a plan for crisis management?
The idea came from a visitor who contacted us via the website because he was interested in the sand battery project. In his work, this visitor is responsible for a school that is part of the municipality's crisis preparedness. He had very interesting thoughts about safe supply of electricity and heat for the municipality's residents for a longer period of time and wanted to discuss whether sand batteries could be a strategic investment for future crisis preparedness. We thank you for the idea and spin further on these thoughts to investigate whether strategically placed sand batteries can be part of a future emergency preparedness package.
Sweden faces challenges when it comes to maintaining the energy supply during crises – from natural disasters and extreme weather events to attacks from foreign powers. The sand battery offers a method for a reliable and sustainable energy storage infrastructure.
By using sand, which is a cheap and environmentally friendly raw material, sand batteries can convert and store excess electricity from the sun and wind from sunny summer days to cold winter months. This technology is versatile enough to adapt to a variety of scenarios. Sand batteries can be used in private homes, condominium associations, schools and public buildings, and even in strategic facilities such as shelters.
The sand battery not only offers an energy storage solution, but also makes a sustainable contribution to reducing the carbon footprint. Its flexibility and efficiency position it as a key component in Sweden's crisis preparedness and as an important part in securing our nation's energy supply in all situations.
We would like to highlight the following people in particular for their help, advice and support in the project:
Pontus Kindblad - for the idea of the sand battery, design of the innovation, material selection, and first-class team leadership
Susanne Kindblad - for strong commitment and practical experience that ensures all parts of the work progress smoothly and efficiently
Marcus Nordgren - for muscle power, clever ideas, endless patience and lots of time and commitment
Ingela Andreasson - for support, encouragement, photography and lots of coffee!
Iulian Lobont - for muscle power, energy and smart building solutions
Dan Widegren - for photography, both with drones and with other professional camera equipment
Rodrigo Araya Orostica - for good advice, tangible help and valuable contacts
Jessica Bornkessel - for the loan of a trailer for some of our many transports
Niclas Wickman - for contacts and valuable input as a sounding board
Martin Kemani - for drone footage and engaging conversations
Patrik Heinonen - for muscle power and energy in quantities
Karin Hansson - for diligent work and encouragement when needed
Thomas Fagerström Nyström - for digging jobs and generous sharing of knowledge
Niclas Snellman - for valuable contributions as sounding board
Niclas Bornkessel - for knowledge and commitment, especially in land and construction matters
Stefan Johansson - for good advice, great interest, and valuable knowledge in law
Christoffer Möckelind - for commitment and valuable contributions as a lead programmer in the project
Maria Olsson - for invaluable help with applications regarding funding of the project
Melker Kindblad - for muscle power and very valuable help with transports
Måns Brorsson - for valuable insights into strategy and sales
Tim Lindkvist - for excellent help with 3D-printing
Paul Griffin - for ingenious thermodynamic calculations and hands-on help in the workshop
Bruno Slettenmark – for invaluable assistance with simulations of airflow and air pressure
Frej Fogelström - for commitment and valuable academic knowledge
Lars Martinsson - for dedicated coaching within the production accelerator Produktionsänglar
Sustainability focus
Technological development and scalability
Efficiency and performance
In the sand battery, we have the following objectives regarding efficiency and performance:
The end consumer's energy costs will be reduced to the maximum and the sand battery will thereby be worth the investment that the customer makes when installing the sand battery.
We are creating a new method for storing energy in the form of heat during the summer. During the winter, the heat is used to heat water and indoor air.
— Pontus och Susanne Kindblad
The Sand Battery is developed by Grounded Heat AB
