Heat batteries may not be the only solution to the industrial heat problem, but they are certainly an exciting field to keep a close eye on. Want to learn more about “hot bricks” and how thermal storage works? Read Casey’s story from earlier this year.
In an effort to clean up industry, a growing number of companies are working to supply that heat with a technology called thermal batteries. It’s such an exciting idea that MIT Technology Review readers have officially selected thermal batteries as the reader’s choice addition to our 2024 list of 10 Breakthrough Technologies.
The thermal battery can use clean electricity to reach temperatures up to 1800°C (3272°F) – the level of heat required in industrial manufacturing – which was previously only possible using fossil fuels.
Scientists have figured out how to electrify industrial heat for the first time by pioneering a new type of hot brick battery. The Joule Hive Thermal Battery, or ‘e-Brick’, was developed by a team from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) who set out to introduce renewable energy to the world’s hardest-to-decarbonise industry.
Currently, the primary source of this high heat is the combustion of fossil fuels. According to the International Energy Agency, industrial heat accounts for 20% of global emissions. Antora and other startups in the heat-battery sector are focusing on developing efficient, cleaner solutions for providing this essential heat.
As it stands, heat batteries are still a nascent industry. However, there’s a big untapped market and promising potential for growth, says Jeffrey Rissman, a senior director of industry at the San Francisco–based climate think tank Energy Innovation.