US startup joins forces with energy company to decarbonize Europe with ‘Superhot brick batteries’

imeng.vip:03月-10日  The Rondo heat battery- Low-cost, zero-emission industrial heat and power.

A California battery start-up, Rondo Energy, claiming to be capable of reducing global CO2 emissions by using superhot brick batteries, has signed a deal with Portugal’s EDP to pair its technology with solar farms.

The startup has developed a heat battery that converts renewable energy to high temperatures. This superhot battery is capable of powering industrial activities. Partnering up with Portugal-based energy company EDP, Rondo will power up to 2 gigawatts of heat battery installations from Rondo across Europe. This deal is expected to start effect in 2025.

EDP will develop decentralized and large-scale solar and wind parks. These parks will be situated with Rondo’s superhot battery to supply thermal energy to existing customers.

The successful implementation of this agreement will help Europe’s manufacturing sector weather the energy crisis while cutting emissions. Hence, this is a significant milestone for the Californian battery startup already in the spotlight because of its innovation.

Rondo’s partnership with EDP will be the company’s most significant deployment yet. It is a deal Rondo’s founder and chief executive John O’Donnell describes as a slingshot moment.

Speaking about the partnership, Vera Pinto Pereira, EDP’s board member, said “By working with Rondo, we can meet their energy needs for renewable energy and heat in a cleaner, affordable, and reliable way. This partnership opens another decarbonization avenue that EDP wants to lead in Europe.”

An alternative method to decarbonize Europe
Rondo has claimed that its superhot batteries can reduce global CO2 emissions by reducing the cost of industrial heat. Decarbonizing the industrial sector has proven difficult because of a reliance on fossil fuels. The fuels are also crucial as they are needed to generate heat high enough to create materials like steel and cement.

The battery company claims its technology can cut industrial emissions by 80% and can provide grid stability by using and storing excess renewable power. Hence, it will create a flexible electricity demand that can soak up this power when the grid experiences an abundance.

Last year, investors, including Microsoft and oil giant Saudi Aramco, came together to help Rondo raise $60 million in new financing. The aim was to help speed up the rollout of heat batteries worldwide.

The Rondo system uses electric heating elements found in toasters and ovens to heat thousands of tonnes of clay bricks. These bricks can reach temperatures of 1,500°C, and a single one can use as much energy as a Tesla Model X. According to Rondo, these bricks can maintain heat and sustain less than 1% of energy loss daily. Building a system at scale can provide enough heat energy to power a factory or run a steam generator.

“Working together, Rondo and EDP will deliver 24-hour clean heat to industrial customers at prices competitive with gas, and without any factory facility changes. This is a game-changer for Rondo, a game-changer for EDP, and a game-changer for their customers worldwide,” said John O’Donnell, CEO of Rondo Energy, in a press release.