Insights

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Marchetti Pro Unveils High-Capacity Thermal Storage Prototype

In 2024, Marchetti Pro, in collaboration with Mainit srl, University of Perugia, Composite Research srl and New Ideas 4.0 Srl, achieved a significant milestone in energy storage innovation. Together, they completed a groundbreaking prototype boasting a thermal storage capacity of approximately 230 kWh, with 175 kWh available at temperatures exceeding 500°C and the remainder operational above 300°C. This system supports a peak storage power of 120 kWe, marking a vital step in validating both the technical feasibility and scalability of this advanced technology.

Prototype assembly operations at MAINIT srl

This achievement represents an essential move toward the development of multi-MWh systems, which are planned to be realized within the next two years. By addressing the increasing demand for efficient, high-temperature energy storage systems, the technology demonstrates its readiness to tackle industrial challenges, particularly those requiring heat above 300°C. Such solutions align with the evolving energy market’s needs, characterized by intermittent renewable sources and a push toward decarbonization.

The collaborative efforts have not only optimized the system’s design but also prepared it for potential market introduction in the coming years. With its competitive performance and innovative design, this technology is poised to enhance energy efficiency, reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and provide scalable solutions for diverse industrial applications. Marchetti Pro’s advancements signal a promising future for sustainable energy storage

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European Patent Boosts Joule Storage Technology

On July 5th, 2024, the European Patent Office officially granted the patent EP4264157C0, titled “Energy Storage Apparatus,” developed by Marchetti PRO. This significant milestone enhances the protection of the Joule Storage technology across key European markets, solidifying its competitive edge in the rapidly evolving energy storage sector.

The Joule Storage system, known for its innovative thermal energy storage capabilities, is designed to harness waste heat and renewable electricity during periods of overproduction. Its ability to store energy at temperatures exceeding 1500°C makes it uniquely suited for energy-intensive industrial processes, including cement production and metallurgy. By integrating cost-effective and sustainable materials, the technology achieves record round-trip efficiency, enabling efficient and flexible energy management.

The patent grant amplifies Marchetti PRO’s ability to attract funding, accelerating the commercialization of this game-changing storage solution. The protected intellectual property facilitates collaboration with industrial partners and strengthens the position of Joule Storage as a pivotal technology in achieving decarbonization goals.

The full patent documentation is accessible via the European Patent Office, underscoring the innovative potential of this technology to transform energy storage practices in Europe and beyond.

Schematic Representation of the Storage System from the Patent

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Why Joule Storage is a Game-Changing Technology?

Renewable energy sources are increasingly competitive, but require a growing need for storage capacity and power. Current storage technologies present problems in the availability of materials, as in the case of batteries, or also in finding suitable sites for installation, as in the case of hydroelectric pumping basins. But beyond that, there is also a cost problem. Even considering a progressive reduction in the costs of current storage technologies, there is an economic limit to the storage power that is convenient to install. The payback time would be too long, for example, for a system that stores energy only about ten hours a week. For this reason, energy scenarios forecast an increasing use of curtailment or the dissipation of excess energy produced from renewable sources.

Diagram from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtailment_(electricity)

Any transformation of electrical energy into another form that can be stored has the undesirable effect of generating heat. Turning electricity into heat is actually the simplest and cheapest process to store energy, with an efficiency of close to 100%. Marchetti PRO observed that storing energy at very high temperatures can be even cheaper than storing it at low temperatures, and moreover this energy is very versatile and can be used to power energy-intensive industrial processes that otherwise could be hardly decarbonized. Industrial demand for heat above 200°C corresponds to 15% of the world’s final uses of energy!

Moreover, Joule -Storage allows us to store and increase the temperature of waste heat from industry, facilitating its reuse in the same industrial process that generates the waste, minimizing energy losses also in batch production.

Diagram modified from: Jacqueline A. Dowling, Katherine Z. Rinaldi, Tyler H. Ruggles, Steven J. Davis, Mengyao Yuan, Fan Tong, Nathan S. Lewis, and Ken Caldeira  “Role of Long-Duration Energy Storage in Variable Renewable Electricity Systems” – Joule Volume 4, Issue 9, 16 September 2020, Pages 1907-1928

Joule Storage technology is based on the use of granular materials that are not subject to breakage, do not require maintenance and do not need industrial processing for production. Medium voltage electricity from the power grid simply passes through the granular material and heats it. Energy is recovered by means of a gas flow that laps the granular material, without the need for heat exchangers. This is why Joule Storage outclasses any other storage technology in terms of capital cost for power capacity, minimising the investment payback time. And this is also the reason because of we are convinced that curtailment will no longer be necessary and the industry will have renewable energy at a low cost.