The concrete of the future. The walls of your home will be able to store electricity

Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed a revolutionary material that could change the way we approach construction. The new type of concrete can not only withstand loads but also store electrical energy like a battery.

How it works

The material, called ec³ (electrically conductive carbon concrete), is made from cement, water, and ultrafine carbon black nanoparticles that form a conductive internal network. This allows the concrete to function as a supercapacitor — a device for storing and releasing energy.

Most impressively, the material’s energy capacity has increased tenfold in recent developments. Previously, about 45 cubic meters of this concrete were required to power an average home — now only five cubic meters are enough.

Imagine the possibilities for your home:

• Energy-independent foundation and walls. Foundations, walls, and slabs can function as distributed energy storage systems, accumulating electricity from solar panels during the day and releasing it at night.
• Heated paths and patios. One of the developing applications is heated pavement for cold climates — ideal for driveways and terraces during winter.
• Next-level smart home. The material can enable real-time structural health monitoring — in tests, a small arch made of ec³ powered an LED whose brightness changed under load. Your home could alert you to the appearance of cracks or structural fatigue.

Sustainability and economy

This “multifunctional concrete” can significantly reduce the environmental footprint of energy storage systems by avoiding the use of rare or toxic materials found in traditional batteries. Considering that concrete is the most widely used building material in the world, the potential for scaling is enormous.

The material’s energy density reaches 2 kWh per cubic meter — roughly enough to power a refrigerator for an entire day.

When to expect it on the market?

The technology is still in the development stage, but MIT is actively working on its commercialization. Durability, recyclability, and the potential for integration into existing construction systems make the material a promising candidate for sustainable design.

For homeowners planning new construction or major renovation in the next 5–10 years, it’s worth keeping this technology on your radar. Energy-storing concrete could become a key element of truly autonomous and eco-friendly housing.