Heating up Thermal Energy Storage

Brenmiller Energy developed a unique storage-based generation unit, combining an inexpensive high temperature thermal media, heat exchanger and steam generator. This technology offers a dramatic reduction in storage prices to below $1 cent per kWth stored. Accepting any available energy source as input, renewable or other, the system fully utilizes all available local energy resources and the entire process is optimized.

Brenmiller Energy announced that it will construct its manufacturing plant in the southern Israeli town of Dimona. In addition to the construction of the plant, Brenmiller Energy will recruit 130 new employees to manufacture the energy storage components. Brenmiller Energy expects that annual revenues from the plant will reach USD70 million within five years, Brenmiller Energy co-founder and CEO Avi Brenmiller said, "The manufacturing plant that we will construct in Israel will be one of the most innovative plants in the energy storage industry, an industry which is expected to grow substantially in the coming years. This is a crucial step in the direction of realizing our strategy for implementing our unique technology which stores energy from a variety of sources. The newly manufacturing plant will supply a substantial proportion of the components required for extensive, and efficient, implementation of renewable energy, and it will make an important contribution to a greener and healthier environment”.

Brenmiller Energy’s technology was acknowledged as groundbreaking by the EU and has received the EU’s seal of excellence under the H2020 program. On April 2018 Brenmiller Energy has received the “Frost & Sullivan 2018 Award” for best practices stating that “Brenmiller Energy has overcome the most pressing challenges in the thermal energy storage market by offering a unique low-cost, scalable, and environmentally-friendly technology”.

Recent accomplishments include a $1M grant for a joint project with the New York Power Authority, where the company will showcase how its thermal energy storage can increase the efficiency of a standard combined heat and power system. The project will supply electricity and heating to a university within New York. In addition, the company was awarded a grant by the Israeli Ministry of Defense for an energy storage project, where the company will provide a mobile-based CHP unit to the Israel Defense Forces.

In addition to its overseas projects, Brenmiller Energy is constructing the Rotem 1 power plant, the first of two projects that are being developed by Brenmiller Energy in Israel, based on BE’s innovative thermal storage technology that allows clean energy production not only when the sun shines but also during the night. The project will allow for continues operation of up to 24 hours a day of electricity supply to the national grid, by installing a 90 MWh storage system. It is expected to be grid connected in the first quarter of 2019.

The second project – Rotem 2 will be constructed near Dimona as well. The cost of construction evaluated by 40 million USD and expected to be grid connected by second quarter of 2020.