Sand Battery: The True Origin (SAND - Part 6)
The Seeds of Innovation: Before Antler
In the
previous parts
of this series, I've shared the technical aspects of Sand Battery technology, its applications, and environmental benefits. Today, I want to take you back to where it all began - the earliest days of experimentation and collaboration that laid the foundation for what would eventually become a transformative energy storage solution.
Sustainable Agriculture Beginnings
September 30, 2022 marked an important milestone in this journey. At a private event focused on sustainable agriculture, my colleague Hai Ho shared an idea with a small group of entrepreneurs - a concept I had previously sent him about Polar Night Energy's thermal storage approach. The discussion centered around how thermal storage could revolutionize agricultural practices, particularly in energy-intensive processes.
Hai Ho mentioned Polar Night Energy Sand Battery as part of a larger speech. Thao Dien, District 2, HCMC.
I think the truth is no-one really remember much about it and we ourselves weren't even clear about the idea, we networked and talked mostly about technology for farming and food processing. Honestly my mind then was still onto something else in the software space.
From Concept to First Sketches
A side note, on October 17, 2022, my designer sketched what would become the first (admittedly "ugly") version of the
Alpha Bits
logo - the entity that would initially house our thermal storage research.
I didn't really think much about anything,
Alpha Bits
was initially meant for my Strategic Technology Consulting arm, which it still is today. This will become important later in the next part where I had to separate the finances for the later prototypes.
First Prototype Construction
After moving into my new apartment in mid October, I did some shopping on popular eCommerce platform, get some basic stuff and put together the first Sand Battery proof of concept out of curiosity.
The never-should-have-been-seen version of Sand Battery
By October 28, 2022, I had constructed the initial version in my apartment, complete with two heating plates embedded within the sand medium. The setup while rudimentary, allowed for continuous monitoring and iterative improvements as I gathered data on heat retention, transfer efficiency, and insulation effectiveness. Almost every readings was analog, I viewed the temperature value visually via my security camera, and I used a typical Tuya wifi smart power switch with current and voltage reading, measuring the total output.
Ofcourse, everything is very much taped or zip-tied together and I didn't really know what I was doing frankly, I'm proud to start from almost zero knowledge about IoT and Energy.
Having said that, my approach was methodical in testing the thermal storage principles I had been researching. I combined what I learnt with
Data-First principle Thinking
mindset, something I've embraced for years in my line of work. You can read more about it in the other article below. The gist of it is that by consistently document the raw data/visual proof, I am confident in the results. To me, those are "Insights" that I'm used to do daily, extracting patterns from millions of transactions using data query SQL. On a side business, I founded
Anatics
during the pandemic, helping retail ecommerce organisations managing and making sense of their data pool, we used to say #
indatawetrust
. I learnt SQL since I was 14 via books, and now, i'm still using it daily in my Tech consulting practices in 2025.
Exploring Real-World Applications
On November 3, 2022, Hai and I traveled to Bao Loc to visit a boutique tea factory owned by Hai's friend. This facility used a traditional wood-furnace to power their conveyor belt tea dryer - exactly the kind of energy-intensive process that could benefit from thermal storage technology.
During this visit, we discussed the potential for implementing a Sand Battery system that could capture and store heat, then release it steadily for the drying process. The tea producer's challenges with fuel costs and inconsistent heat delivery made it an ideal test case for our developing technology.
Exploring Off-Grid Applications
Also on the same trip, I visited Hai Ho's off-grid house near the tea factory. Using a 360-degree camera, I captured images of the location where we discussed setting up a proof-of-concept Sand Battery installation.
This potential installation site represented an important test case: could the Sand Battery provide reliable thermal energy in an off-grid setting? The discussions centered around sizing, integration with existing systems, and practical considerations for implementation.
Formalizing the Journey: The Antler Connection
That same day, marked another significant milestone: Hai and I confirmed our Memorandum of Understanding with the Antler VN3 program. At this point, Hai was running Sustainations DAO, and I was setting up Alpha Bits legal entity.
Accepting Antler MOU while we were on the trip to Bao Loc
The Antler program would provide structure, resources, and connections that would help transform our early experiments into a more formalized venture. This was the beginning of the institutional support that would eventually lead to the $1.5M funding round.
Breakthrough Moment: Temperature Differential
Returning home after the trip, I got back to working on it and just one day later, on November 4, 2022, I recorded a significant breakthrough with the prototype. Security camera footage from my balcony captured the moment when the internal temperature of the Sand Battery reached 150°C while the exterior remained cool to the touch. You can see video below, where I touch the sand battery exterior and using thermometer to check the temperature.
/0:46
Inside temperature 150°C, Outside temperature 28°C
/0:20
Inside temperature 150°C, Outside temperature 28°C
This temperature differential was crucial - it demonstrated both the effective heat retention capabilities and the safety aspects of the design, using just off-the-shelf consumer parts. The ability to store intense heat while maintaining a touchable exterior would become a defining feature of the technology later.
Antler VN3 Program Begins
On November 7, 2022, two parallel tracks of the Sand Battery story converged. I attended my first day with the Antler VN3 program, while remotely monitoring the home-made Sand Battery experiment via the security camera apps.
This day marked the beginning of a new chapter, as the private experimentation began to merge with the structured venture - building approach of the Antler program. It was here, on this first day, that I would meet our CTO
Nam Nguyen
for the first time.
Nam introduced himself to the cohort, sharing his background and interests. At this point, my home-made Sand Battery concept was already well underway, with working prototypes, site visits, and application discussions already in progress between Hai and myself.
The Foundation Was Set
These early days - from late September through early November 2022 - established the critical foundation for what would eventually become the Sand Battery technology that I've detailed in previous parts of this saga.
The timeline is as summarised:
- The concept was first shared publicly on September 30, 2022
- Alpha Bits identity was taking shape by October 17, 2022
- The first working prototype was built by October 28, 2022
Real-world applications were being explored in Bảo Lộc by November 3, 2022
- Temperature breakthrough was documented on November 4, 2022
The Antler program began on November 7, 2022, where CTO Nam Nguyen joint the team.
In the next part of this series, I'll share how these early experiments evolved into more sophisticated prototypes and how the team dynamics shaped the development process. The journey from apartment experiments to a funded venture is beyond my imagination, the wildest chase has just began.
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Part 7 — The "Sand Battery" Patent USPTO 12-130086-B1
.