Cleaning Up: Leadership in an Age of Climate Change Cleaning Up Redux: Hot Rocks in a Box — Anand Gopal
Dec 24, 2025
Anand Gopal explores the innovative concept of thermal batteries, or 'hot rocks in a box,' which can store renewable energy as heat for industrial processes. He discusses their potential to decarbonize manufacturing while highlighting the financial barriers they face compared to fossil fuel costs. The conversation shifts to the political landscape surrounding clean energy policies, including the influence of the Inflation Reduction Act on electrification and energy transition strategies. Gopal emphasizes the need for high-profile projects to demonstrate these technologies' viability.
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From Farming To Solar Design
- Anand recounts designing a solar PV system for an Australian organic farm when a contractor backed out.
- That hands-on success convinced him his engineering skills could drive clean energy deployment.
Hot Rocks In A Box Explained
- Thermal batteries store electricity as heat and deliver continuous industrial heat on demand.
- They use simple media like crushed brick or sand and achieve very high round-trip efficiency.
Thermal Batteries Near Commercial Scale
- Thermal batteries are at technology readiness levels 7–8 and there are already commercial systems operating.
- Companies like Tora Energy and Rondo Energy offer custom systems but mass deployment is still pending.