So, the heat storage facility is "source neutral". In addition, precisely how the stored heat is used "downstream" is also not a central part of the design, but turbines etc. are a likely option.
Does say the hot air at the end can be used for industrial processes, so it might not be completely lost
The 1000 degree air is not used directly to drive turbines, but instead to deliver heat to a heat storage unit via a heat exchanger. The solar-heated air, after flowing through the heat exchanger, is still around 250 degrees and the article mentions some possible uses of that heated air (again, not generation).
Generation occurs using heat coming from the heat storage unit, not using the solar-heated hot air. Since the heat storage unit can also be fed by hot air heated via other means, this makes the heat storage unit "source neutral" - it can be heated by solar or fossil fuel combustion (or whatever).
The turbines are "downstream" of the heat storage unit.
Brayton cycle so no water needed. It seems as if the concept has not changed since https://www.rostinternational.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10...
Look inside, it’s boiling water to spin turbines.
I'm dumb, but I meant, anything else and similarly magical?
I guess there's the ATP stuff used by all lifeforms..
It also hasn't been built yet. Let me know when they have one working prototype. Until then, it is just a concept on a drawing board.