Rondo Energy Unveils World's Largest Thermal Battery

Rondo Energy has launched the world's largest thermal battery, a system designed to store electricity and provide a consistent source of heat for industrial applications. The company announced that its first full-scale, 100-megawatt-hour capacity system is now operational, powered by an off-grid solar array.

This thermal battery represents a significant milestone in demonstrating the real-world viability of thermal energy storage, particularly for decarbonizing challenging sectors like manufacturing and heavy industry.

How Thermal Batteries Work

The concept behind thermal batteries is straightforward: electricity heats a durable, inexpensive material like bricks, maintaining the heat for later use in industrial processes or electricity generation. Rondo's system has been operating for 10 weeks, meeting efficiency and reliability benchmarks, with the bricks reaching temperatures exceeding 1,000°C (1,800°F), achieving over 97% energy return as heat.

Scaling Up from Pilot to Full-Scale

This marks a considerable advancement from Rondo’s 2 MWh pilot system launched in 2023. The new system is the first of the company’s mass-produced, full-size heat batteries ready for deployment. Approximately 20% of current global energy demand is for industrial process heat, primarily generated by burning fossil fuels, making this project's success crucial for climate action.

Complex Trade-offs in Initial Deployment

The initial deployment for enhanced oil recovery presents a complex trade-off. While it helps decarbonize existing processes within the oil and gas sector, it also supports continued fossil fuel extraction, a point acknowledged by Rondo. Founder John O’Donnell argues that using solar power instead of natural gas for these operations is a net positive, driven by cost-effectiveness and policy incentives.

Future Deployments and Production Capacity

Rondo is currently constructing three additional full-scale units in Europe, leveraging the knowledge gained from the California project to reduce costs and accelerate deployment. The company’s Thailand factory currently has a production capacity of 2.4 gigawatt-hours of heat batteries.

O’Donnell emphasizes the practical and readily available nature of heat batteries, stating, "This is a really dumb, practical thing that’s ready now."