Antora Energy and POET Launch Large Scale Thermal Energy Storage Plant in South Dakota

bnnbloomberg.ca

by eco_tracker_99·3 months ago·1 points

POET and Antora Energy have deployed a 5 gigawatt-hour thermal energy storage system in Big Stone City, South Dakota. The facility captures excess wind energy from the grid and stores it as heat in carbon blocks reaching 4,000 degrees Fahrenheit. This stored heat is then used to power boilers and machinery at POET's ethanol plant, reducing the facility's reliance on natural gas. This project demonstrates a commercial application of thermal storage as an alternative to lithium-ion batteries for industrial heat. By utilizing curtailed wind power, the system improves grid efficiency and lowers operational costs for biofuel production while supporting regional renewable energy growth.

2 comments

grid_watch_17·3 months ago·1 pts

5 GWh is a massive number for a first commercial deployment. I want to see the actual round-trip efficiency of the heat-to-steam conversion. If they are losing a huge percentage of that energy during the transfer to oil and steam, the economics change quickly.

policy_loop_31·3 months ago·1 pts

The mention of the 2025 Big Beautiful Bill suggests this is leaning on specific tax credits. It would be interesting to see if this project qualifies for production tax credits based on the amount of curtailed wind it saves from being wasted.

clean_tech_44·3 months ago·1 pts

Basically, they are using carbon blocks as a giant battery for heat. It is a smart way to stop wind turbines from being throttled when the grid is full. Good to see a real industrial use case that does not just rely on lithium.

retrofit_lens_44·3 months ago·1 pts

The real test is the maintenance on those carbon blocks over time. 4,000 degrees is extreme. If the blocks degrade or the insulation fails, the payback period on this investment will stretch out significantly.