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Heat batteries

There are a range of thermal storage solutions which allow excess energy or heat to be stored and used hours or even days later at a more advantageous time..

Thermal energy storage is a critical enabler for the large scale deployment of renewable energy and supports the decarbonisation of thermal end uses, such as refrigeration, water heating and space heating and cooling.

Advances in and greater implementation of thermal batteries support lower energy costs, higher performing and more affordable heat pumps, as well as the flexibility to participate in load-shifting arrangements as part of more dynamic energy contracts and procurement arrangements. (Source: EERE)

HOW HEAT BATTERIES WORK

Sources of thermal energy storage can include the heat (and cold) produced by heat pumps and combined heat and power systems, waste heat from industrial processes and excess renewable energy generation stored as heat.

A variety of materials are used to store the energy as heat, with water, aluminium and concrete-like materials common examples.

Examples of the various storage technologies currently available include the following.

MGA Thermal

The MGA technology is a purpose-invented material called Miscibility Gap Alloy (MGA), which is manufactured as MGA Blocks. Learn more.

1414 Degrees

The silicon-based thermal energy storage solutions from 1414 Degrees safely and efficiently store renewable electricity as latent heat for use by industry and to stabilise the grid. Learn more.

Rondo Heat Battery

The Rondo Heat Battery uses electric heating elements, like those in a toaster or oven, to turn power when it’s available into high-temperature heat. Learn more.

Antora

Antora’s thermal batteries store energy as heat in blocks of solid carbon to power global industry. Learn more.

THERMAL STORAGE CASE STUDIES

There are more and more examples of heat batteries and other types of thermal storage significantly reducing energy use and emissions in industrial processes by utilising waste heat. Here are some examples from Australia and around the world.

3 Ravens Brewery, Melbourne - heat pumps for beer production

Melbourne's 3 Ravens Brewery is using heat pumps, industry 4.0 technology & solar PV to slash energy costs while increasing beer production.

News

101 Collins St, Melbourne

Commercial heat pumps have replaced gas plants to supply domestic hot water to 23 floors of the 101 Collins St building in the Melbourne CBD

Case study

Doone Kennedy Hobart Aquatic Centre

Heat recovery, heat pumps and 390 kW of solar PV is keeping energy use, emissions and costs down.

Case study

Pernod Ricard Winemakers

Glaciem Cooling installed a thermal energy storage battery to enable sustainable winemaking by Pernod Ricard.

Case study

University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland

The University of the Sunshine Coast partnered with Veolia to build 'water battery' sustainable cooling solution for its campus.

Case study

Montague fruit-packing facility

A leading Australian fruit supplier is using heat pumps and thermal energy storage at its greenfield packing site.

Case study

THERMAL BATTERY WEBINARS

Watch these webinars for the latest updates on thermal battery technologies and case studies on how they are being used more and more across a range of sectors.