Rondo Energy has activated what it claims is the largest thermal battery in the world, a system for energy storage that absorbs electricity and delivers a steady supply of heat.
Last week, the company revealed that its inaugural full-scale system has begun operations, boasting a capacity of 100 megawatt-hours. The thermal battery operates on energy generated by an off-grid solar array and will supply heat for improved oil extraction (details on this shortly).
Thermal batteries have the potential to aid in the decarbonization of challenging sectors such as manufacturing and heavy industrial activities like cement and steel production. With Rondo’s latest update, the industry has achieved a significant milestone in demonstrating that thermal energy storage can indeed operate effectively in practical scenarios. Let’s explore this announcement, the implications of oil and gas involvement, and future developments.
The principle behind a thermal battery is remarkably straightforward: Utilize electricity to heat inexpensive, durable materials (such as bricks) and maintain that heat for later use, either directly in an industrial activity or to generate electricity.
According to the company, Rondo’s new system has functioned for 10 weeks and met all necessary efficiency and reliability criteria. The bricks achieve temperatures exceeding 1,000 °C (approximately 1,800 °F), with over 97% of the energy input converted back to heat.
This marks a considerable advancement from the 2 MWh pilot system initiated by Rondo in 2023, and it is the first of the mass-produced, full-sized heat batteries the company aims to deliver to customers.
Thermal batteries could serve as a critical instrument in reducing emissions: 20% of overall energy demand at present is dedicated to generating heat for industrial operations, with the majority stemming from the combustion of fossil fuels. Thus, the success of this project holds great importance for climate initiatives.
However, there is one significant aspect that tempers some of this promise: This battery is being utilized for enhanced oil recovery, a method where steam is injected into wells to extract hard-to-reach oil from the earth.
It can be challenging for a climate technology to prove its value while assisting in the extraction of fossil fuels. Some critics contend that such approaches extend the life of polluting infrastructure.
In my conversation with Rondo founder and Chief Innovation Officer John O’Donnell regarding the new system, he defended the decision to collaborate with oil and gas.
“We are decarbonizing the world as it stands today,” O’Donnell states. He believes it is preferable to assist an oil and gas firm in employing solar power for their operations rather than allowing them to continue relying on natural gas for heat. He adds that due to affordable solar, high costs of natural gas, and policies in California, Rondo’s technology was a logical fit for the client.
Securing a willing customer to finance a full-scale system has been pivotal for Rondo in demonstrating its technology’s viability.
Furthermore, additional units are in the pipeline: Rondo is in the process of constructing three more full-scale units in Europe. According to O’Donnell, the company will be able to deploy these more cost-effectively and rapidly thanks to the insights gained from the California project.
Rondo possesses the capacity to manufacture more batteries effectively and efficiently. Currently, it produces batteries at its facility in Thailand, which can generate 2.4 gigawatt-hours of heat batteries at present.
I have been monitoring advancements in thermal batteries for several years, and this initiative undoubtedly signifies a notable leap forward. Despite the assurances of affordable, resilient energy storage, there is nothing that compares to constructing a large-scale system and evaluating its performance in real-world conditions.
It’s certainly challenging to feel enthusiastic about enhanced oil recovery—we must cease burning fossil fuels promptly to mitigate the worst effects of climate change. Nevertheless, I understand the perspective that as long as oil and gas operations are ongoing, cleaning them up holds significance.
As O’Donnell puts it, heat batteries can make a difference: “This is a really simple, practical solution that’s ready now.”
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