The Rock-Hot Potential of Thermal Energy Storage

So, you've always thought batteries were those little cylindrical things destined to die in your TV remote, right? But let's get with the times, shall we? There's a swanky new player in the game that's heating things up (quite literally) and proving to be as versatile as a Swiss army knife—heat-based batteries, my friends. Enter Brenmiller Energy’s bGen, the hot new box on the block making waves by turning electricity into steamy goodness for campuses, hospitals, and, lo and behold, even making power plants more efficient.

Have you ever seen rocks do anything useful other than just... lying around? Well, buckle up. Doron Brenmiller and his team have reimagined rocks – yes, the ones you've ignored under your feet – into a bedrock for energy storage. Over twelve years, they've evolved from aiming their thermal heat at solar-thermal power plants to a whole array of applications where they're storing heat like a dragon hoards gold. They've taken a bunch of crushed rock, tossed it into what they call bCubes (thermally insulated containers, for the layman), heated it up using cheap electricity, and voilà, you’ve got a storage medium that can keep it cozy for days or weeks.

Now, why – you might ask skeptically – is anyone betting their dollars on what sounds like a glorified rock collection? Because investors are throwing hundreds of millions at such systems. Why? These hot rocks are addressing some cool challenges in decarbonizing industrial processes that guzzle steam and hot water like nobody's business. Plus, they’re more cost-effective than their flashy lithium-ion cousins for squirrelling away clean electricity from our friends, the sun and wind, especially over long durations.

But don’t get it twisted – it's not just about having a neat technology concept. Brenmiller knows that reliability and cost are king. Hence, they’ve got this thermal exchanger integrated within the rock-filled cubes. It’s like a passageway for heat to come and go, ensuring that whatever the power input, the heat output remains rock-steady.

Ever heard of power-to-heat applications? Forget charging your phone; we're talking about using off-peak electricity or solar power to replace the fossil-fueled steam generators in plants and hospitals. Let's paint a picture: Brenmiller’s tech is simmering away in a beverage processing plant, sterilizing bottles without the guilt-trip from diesel-fired boilers. And the cherry on top – contracting "Heat as a Service." That's right, you pay for the steam puffs, not the system. Think Netflix, but for heat.

Speaking of cost, in Europe, where fossil gas prices have soared higher than a kite on a windy day, thermal storage holds particular promise. It’s also worth noting that in the U.S., where cheap gas is as American as apple pie, thermal energy storage projects might not be as juicy. But, despair not, they’re getting some love from federal grants aimed at reducing industrial emissions.

Now let's talk about heat-to-heat applications, which have less of a catchy appeal but are every bit as interesting. In essence, they trap unwanted heat from cogeneration systems during the graveyard shift, then deploy it during the day when it’s needed. Makes you wonder whether these rocks could eventually take up juggling too.

Let’s not forget the proverbial elephant in the room – power plants. Storing excess heat in thermal batteries lets plants skimp on the ramping up and down, thus boosting electricity generation efficiency and responding better to renewable power generation's moody swings. The idea is to make these power plants work smarter, not harder, to be more competitive with renewables. And no, before you ask, thermal storage isn’t going to save the world single-handedly. But every little bit helps, right?

Now, there are some real-world applications underway, with one in particular over in Tuscany, Italy. They’re toying with Brenmiller’s bGen at a gas-fired power plant, trying to see if they can squish their carbon footprint a tad more. Worth noting that they're still in the 'science fair project' stage, but who doesn't love a bit of experimentation?

And then there's the future-looking lot, diving into heat-to-electricity conversion with things like thermophotovoltaic panels. It's science fiction-style cool, but the challenge is proving it at scale. Who knows, we might eventually see electricity wizards conjuring up volts from thermal batteries straight out of some mad scientist’s basement.

So, our final musings on this – are these heat-based batteries the solution to our clean energy conundrums? Well, in a world on the brink, where every headline feels like it's screaming 'Game Over,’ it's rather soothing to ponder a future where the same old rocks at your feet might just keep the lights on a little longer. Plus, there's a certain poetic justice in the image of power plants slurping up excess heat that would otherwise go to waste—like those last drops of wine you thought you were too good for.

Are we placing all our bets on piles of hot rocks? Maybe not. But it’s certainly heating up the conversation about clean energy and, who knows, it could be a game-changer. Or just another flash in the pan. Only time will tell. Cheers to that.

Source: https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/energy-storage/heat-based-batteries-are-a-surprisingly-versatile-tool