New invention for heating and energy storage

Could a heat battery save the world?

Heat batteries could help cut emissions by providing new routes to use solar and wind power. A handful of startups think bricks that hold heat could be the key to bringing renewable energy to some of the world’s biggest polluters.

How does a heat storage system work?

The company’s heat storage system relies on a resistance heater, which transforms electricity into heat using the same method as a space heater or toaster—but on a larger scale, and reaching a much higher temperature. That heat is then used to warm up carefully engineered and arranged stacks of bricks, which store the heat for later use.

What is thermal energy storage?

Thermal energy storage could connect cheap but intermittent renewable electricity with heat-hungry industrial processes. These systems can transform electricity into heat and then, like typical batteries, store the energy and dispatch it as needed. Rondo Energy is one of the companies working to produce and deploy thermal batteries.

Can you make a giant scale heat storage system?

“If you want to make it to giant scale, everybody ought to agree that it’s boring and reliable,” says John O’Donnell, CEO of California-based heat storage startup Rondo Energy. The startup deployed its first commercial pilot in March at an ethanol plant in California. It’s basically a carefully designed stack of bricks.

Can a heat engine convert heat to electricity without moving parts?

Engineers at MIT and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have designed a heat engine with no moving parts. Their new demonstrations show that it converts heat to electricity with over 40 percent efficiency — a performance better than that of traditional steam turbines.

What challenges will heat storage technology face?

One of the major challenges for heat storage technologies will be building enough systems to meet heavy industry’s huge energy demand. The sector uses a “monstrous” amount of heat, says Rebecca Dell, senior director of industry at ClimateWorks.