Batteries aren't the only way to store energy. Here's another. - Technology Connections
Batteries aren't the only way to store energy. Here's another. - Technology Connections
"Reduce emissions and save the grid with this one weird trick!!!" -Confucius Links 'n Stuff Technology Connextras (the second channel that stuff goes on sometimes): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClRwC5Vc8HrB6vGx6Ti-lhA Technology Connections on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TechConnectify The TC ...
TL;DR - you can heat or cool your house when power is cheaper (if your energy supplier has time based cost) and you can shut off your HVAC during the high cost times and your insulation is the temperature "battery"
Similarly you can only run your hot water tank during non peak times and it may be able to satisfy all your hot water needs even when it's not actively heating the water.
That being said, Technology Connections does a great deep dive into numerous topics and he is a fun host. Most videos, while very long, are great edutainment.
On a smaller scale, you can use several gallons of water as a thermal buffer ("battery") for a greenhouse, grow tent or small room. No, it's not convenient to have gallons of water around, but it can be useful for growing things that need to stay in a specific temperature range over the course of a day.
For example, I'll be doing this for my mushroom grow tent as we get into winter here. (Lows of 35°F up to 80°F during the day.) Mycelium development and/or fruiting is partially controlled with temperature.
You could also do similar things in the industry. Only have metal production sites or heavy railway transport operate when solar energy is cheap.