Out with lithium and nickel, in with salt and bricks?
Jul 2, 2024
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Explore innovative energy storage solutions beyond lithium and nickel, such as using salt, bricks, and heat to provide sustainable heating for industrial sites. Learn about companies like Rondo in California utilizing heat bricks for cost-effective energy storage, as well as Kyoto's Heatcube for long-duration thermal storage solutions. Discover the challenges and partnerships involved in scaling these technologies for market expansion and reducing CO2 emissions in the energy transition sector.
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Quick takeaways
Innovative heat storage solutions like using bricks heated to high temperatures offer cost-effective long-duration energy storage alternatives for industrial needs.
Advancements in phase change materials and thermochemical storage facilitate enhanced performance in residential energy storage, promoting energy efficiency and sustainability.
Utilizing molten salt technology in modular designs, such as the Heat Cube, provides scalable and responsive long-duration thermal energy storage solutions for industrial decarbonization and grid balancing.
Deep dives
Long-Duration Energy Storage Market Growth and Projection
By 2040, long-duration energy storage is estimated to deploy between one and a half to two and a half terawatts of power, presenting a substantial opportunity in the market. The potential investment in this sector ranges from one and a half to three trillion dollars, showcasing a significant financial landscape. While standard batteries remain a focus in the industry, there is a diversification towards innovative long-duration storage technologies aiming to offer cheaper off-peak energy solutions, marking a shift towards more cost-effective and sustainable storage options.
Innovative Heat Storage Technology with Rondo
Rondo, represented by CEO John O'Donnell, introduces a groundbreaking heat storage technology utilizing bricks heated to 1500 degrees Celsius to store energy for days. This innovative approach enables the storage of renewable intermittent electricity cost-effectively and efficiently. By harnessing heat as a storage medium, Rondo's solution not only tackles long-duration energy storage challenges but also supports industrial heat needs, offering a viable alternative to traditional lithium and nickel-based storage solutions.
Advancements in Phase Change Materials and Thermochemical Storage
Professor Rob Barthorpe from the University of Sheffield sheds light on the advancements in phase change materials and thermochemical storage solutions. These innovative technologies offer improved performance for long and short-term residential energy storage, enhancing heat retention and delivery. The phase change materials enable denser heat storage compared to traditional water storage systems, promoting greater energy efficiency and sustainability in residential heat management.
Deployment of Modular and Scalable Thermal Energy Storage Solutions
Kyoto Group's CEO, Camilla Nielsen, discusses the innovative Heat Cube technology, which leverages molten salt for efficient long-duration thermal energy storage. The Heat Cube's modular design allows for scalability and customization based on industrial heat demands, offering a flexible and responsive energy storage solution. With rapid response times and a lifetime of 25 years, the Heat Cube presents a cost-effective and sustainable alternative for industrial decarbonization and grid balancing.
Financial Landscape and Future Outlook of Energy Storage Technologies
The financing environment for energy storage technologies, such as thermal energy storage, remains challenging but holds promising opportunities through strategic industrial partnerships and informed investments. With a growing focus on thermal energy storage as a key component of the energy transition, the sector is expected to witness exponential growth and market disruption. The evolving landscape of energy storage technologies signals a transformative shift towards sustainable and efficient grid management, highlighting the critical role of innovative storage solutions in the future energy ecosystem.
Demand for heating at industrial sites around the world is rising. How can demand be met sustainably?
Think of energy storage, and what do you think of? Probably lithium and nickel. But what about salt, and bricks? One of the big challenges for the energy transition is storage. It’s a particular problem for industrial-scale buildings and areas that need a lot of energy. Currently about half the energy demand is heat, and electric batteries are (most of the time) the ones providing it.
Where you need heat, you need a big battery. Or do you? On the Interchange: Recharged, we explore the other options that are emerging. Professor Robert Barthorpe is a lecturer in the Dynamics Research Group in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Sheffield. He joins us to discuss the new technologies that are opening up possibilities when it comes to providing heat to homes in the UK. There are plenty of options on a residential scale, but what about industrial?
In California, a company called Rondo is approaching the issue of heat delivery to commercial-scale buildings with a novel solution: they’re using bricks to store energy at half the cost of green hydrogen or chemical batteries. What’s the technology look like, and how scalable is it? We talk to CEO John O’Donnell to find out.
Finally, another innovative way of storing energy in the form of heat comes from Norwegian-based company Kyoto. What they call the Heatcube is a structure of vertical tanks filled with molten salt, that are charged by renewable electricity at periods of low cost. Installed at the site where heat is needed, the Heatcube stores it at 500c for use when required. Camilla Nilsson is CEO at Kyoto, and she joins us to explore the Heatcube and the trends in demand for heat across global industry.
