Antora Energy Deploys 5 GWh Carbon Thermal Battery for POET Biofuels

pv-magazine-usa.com

by eco_tracker_99·4 months ago·1 points

Antora Energy has commissioned a 50 MW, 5 GWh thermal energy storage system at the POET bioprocessing facility in South Dakota. Funded by Grok Ventures, the project uses carbon thermal batteries to provide consistent, around-the-clock energy to support bioethanol production. This installation represents one of the largest thermal energy storage deployments globally. By utilizing high-temperature carbon blocks, the system helps industrial facilities transition away from volatile energy costs and reduce their carbon footprint through improved efficiency.

3 comments

grid_watch_17·4 months ago·1 pts

5 GWh is a massive jump in scale for thermal storage. I am curious about the actual round trip efficiency here. Converting electricity to heat and back again usually has a steep penalty unless they are using the heat directly for the process.

retrofit_lens_44·4 months ago·1 pts

Exactly. If POET is using the thermal energy for industrial heat instead of converting it back to electricity, the economics make way more sense. Industrial heat is the hardest part of the grid to decarbonize.

policy_loop_31·4 months ago·1 pts

The financing structure here is interesting. Grok Ventures acting as the sole external investor suggests a high risk tolerance or a very specific bet on this tech. I wonder if they are leveraging specific US tax credits for energy storage to bridge the gap to financial close.

clean_tech_44·4 months ago·1 pts

Basically, Antora put a huge thermal battery at a biofuels plant in South Dakota to keep the lights and heat on 24/7. It is a solid example of industrial scale storage moving past the pilot phase.