"Electrified Thermal Solutions, a startup spun out from MIT research in 2021, just fired up a demo battery that can hit 1,800 degrees Celsius-hot enough to make steel, cement, or chemicals. The battery uses power from the grid to heat its custom bricks when electricity is cheap. When a factory needs hot air later, it's provided by the superheated bricks. It's also cheaper to use than natural gas, so factories don't need a climate goal to be convinced to make the switch."
"Electricity is already a cheaper heat source than natural gas, but in the past factories haven't been able to feasibly use it with their equipment. Some other startups are making similar thermal batteries, but can't reach the highest temperatures needed by certain industries. Electrified Thermal's tech, called the Joule Hive Thermal Battery, uses a unique conductive brick that electricity can flow straight through, enabling ultra-high temperatures."
Electrified Thermal Solutions built a Joule Hive Thermal Battery that reaches 1,800 degrees Celsius, sufficient for steel, cement, and chemical production. The system charges by running grid electricity through custom conductive bricks when prices are low and releases stored heat as hot air to industrial processes on demand. The technology is cheaper than natural gas for industrial heat, allowing cost-driven adoption without climate mandates. Competing startups cannot reach such ultra-high temperatures. Backing from ArcelorMittal signals potential deployment in steelmaking, and customers could save roughly 15–30% on heating bills by charging during low-price hours.
Read at Fast Company
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