Bricks are the Latest Hot Climate Technology.

There is an emerging trend of utilizing heat batteries to store clean energy. Several companies are now focusing on developing these systems that capture the waste heat generated by clean electricity and store it in piles of bricks. These systems are easy to build as they use readily available materials and uncomplicated designs. They can be quickly constructed anywhere as per requirements. One such system was recently installed in California and other testing is currently underway. Though it is still in its initial stages, heat storage systems have a promising potential to help industries transition away from non-renewable resources.

"The Future's Toaster: A Glimpse Beyond Today"

The simplicity of heat batteries is a major factor in their potential success. John O'Donnell, who leads Rondo Energy, a heat storage startup in California, believes that in order for heat batteries to be widely adopted, they need to be both unexciting and dependable.

The new company initiated its inaugural practical test in March at an ethanol production facility located in California. Essentially, the structure is an intricately crafted assortment of blocks.

Rondo's arrangement includes a process where electricity flows through a heating apparatus, which converts it into heat. This process is similar to how a toaster functions, except on a larger and more intense scale, as stated by O'Donnell. The heat is then transmitted through an assemblage of bricks, raising the temperature to as high as 1,500 °C (2,700 °F).

The bricks are kept warm for extended periods in a steel container with insulation. To make use of the heat stored inside, fans are utilized to push air through the bricks. This process can result in the air hitting temperatures reaching 1,000°C (1,800°F) while traveling through the crevices.

According to O'Donnell, the utilization of the end heat will vary based on the business operations; however, most establishments will most likely utilize it to convert water into steam with high pressure.

Rondo has initiated a test project in a biofuel factory in California, which utilizes steam in the procedure of fermentation that results in the upbringing of ethanol. The use of steam is a standard method used in various manufacturing processes to monitor the temperature in reactors or, for example, in the purification phase.

Heat storage systems could be tailored for procedures that require elevated temperatures above 1,000°C apart from steam-based processes. Such procedures could include the production of materials like cement and steel.

A lot of industrial activities operate non-stop, meaning they need continuous heating. Rondo, however, has developed a system that can swiftly charge by regulating heat transfer, making use of the duration when renewable energy is abundantly available, hence lowering electricity costs. It's estimated that their heat storage units only need a four-hour charging period to function consistently, regardless of the time of day.

The Enormous Heat Amount

It will be difficult for heat storage technologies to keep up with the energy needs of heavy industry. The sector requires a huge amount of heat, according to Rebecca Dell, who is the senior director of industry at ClimateWorks. She describes the amount of heat needed as "monstrous." Industry uses three times more energy in the form of heat than electricity each year. Industrial heat makes up 20% of total global energy demand. Meeting this demand will require a lot of heat storage systems.

For a long time, fossil fuels were the most common and cheapest way to provide the energy needed for large scale industrial processes. However, the cost of wind and solar power has significantly decreased by more than 90% in recent decades. As a result, electricity now has the opportunity to play a more significant role in industry. According to Dell, this shift has created new opportunities for powering industrial processes.

According to O'Donnell, we are currently in an amazing time period where we can discontinue the practice of burning materials for warmth and rely on cheaper alternatives.

Other possibilities exist for using affordable renewable energy in industry. Instead of relying on high temperatures, some factories may be modified to run on electricity. Certain businesses are researching ways to produce cement and steel using electrochemical methods, though this process may require significant upgrades to existing infrastructure, a task that could take several decades to complete. Another option is to utilize electricity to create hydrogen, which can then be used to fuel power generation. However, in many cases, this approach is still financially impractical and ineffective.

Meeting the huge heat requirements of various industries will necessitate significant growth in electricity production. According to Dell, an average cement factory utilizes approximately 250 megawatts of energy, mostly in heat form, on a constant basis. This amount of energy is equal to the power consumption of 250,000 people. Thus, changing over to electric power to run large industrial establishments will result in an increased demand for electricity comparable to that of a small urban area.

Building with Bricks, One at a Time

Rondo is not the only company trying to implement heat batteries in various industries. Antora Energy, which is located in California, is also constructing heat reservoirs with the help of carbon. According to Justin Briggs, their COO and cofounder, the process is quite easy as it involves creating solid blocks.

Antora's heating system uses carbon blocks to generate and store heat, rather than a standalone heating element such as Rondo's "toaster coil." This offers the potential for reduced expenses and simplicity, according to Briggs. However, it requires meticulous enclosure since carbon and graphite materials can deteriorate at elevated temperatures in the air.

Antora is not only focused on offering heat to industry, but also aims to provide electricity as an alternative. This objective is achieved through the utilization of thermophotovoltaics, which are similar devices to solar panels, in capturing energy from the sun. However, Antora's equipment is capable of harnessing heat energy emanating from heated blocks and convert it into electricity.

Although heat-to-heat storage systems can achieve efficiency levels over 90%, the conversion of heat to electricity presents a greater challenge. Antora's technology is expected to yield efficiencies of less than 50% when used for electricity, similar to many currently used gas turbines.

Antora is presently constructing its pioneer system in Fresno, California, which will be functional by the end of this year. The dimensions of this system will be almost equal to those of a shipping container.

The utilization of readily available materials for heat storage will require some time to demonstrate its significance to producers and substantially reduce industrial emissions. Nevertheless, it is plausible that this technology can act as a fundamental piece for creating a novel, eco-friendly industrial domain. As stated by O'Donnell, all the required resources are at our disposal to transition to a carbon-free economy. Therefore, we must act on this opportunity and construct them.