Why TES thermal energy storage is essential for industry (and the planet)
In an era where sustainable solutions are increasingly urgent, electric thermal energy storage emerges as a game-changing innovation. With a long-term vision and the right support, TES thermal energy storage has the potential to become a key pillar of clean energy in industries worldwide. Already, in the short term, it represents an efficient and cost-effective technological solution for decarbonizing industrial processes requiring medium-high temperatures. This conclusion was a key takeaway from the two days of discussions during the Magaldi Green Energy Open Day, held on October 7 and 12, 2024, at the Magaldi production site in Buccino, Salerno, Italy.
At these meetings, researchers, scientists, and representatives from institutional, industrial, and entrepreneurial sectors provided a comprehensive overview of advancements in TES thermal energy storage, starting with the innovative MGTES – Magaldi Green Thermal Energy Storage.
MGTES – Magaldi Green Thermal Energy Storage – is the first zero-impact system capable of supplying thermal energy to industries, offering a complete alternative to fossil fuels, like gas and diesel. Developed and patented by Magaldi, global leader in dependable high-temperature material handling technologies, MGTES is set to transform the LDES long-duration energy storage market. Supported by over ten global patents, MGTES stands out for its high levels of efficiency and reliability, setting new benchmarks in the field.
The Italian-developed MGTES is designed to replace gas for industrial heat production and to address the intermittency challenges of renewable energy, while enhancing grid flexibility and resilience. As an innovative solution, MGTES has the capacity to decarbonize industrial processes requiring heat in the 150° to 400°C range, which is critical for sectors like food & beverage, paper, plastics, and chemicals, sectors that today rely heavily on fossil fuels.
Experts discuss TES solutions for industrial decarbonization at Magaldi Open Days
During the two Open Days organized by Magaldi, international experts from the energy sector, including representatives from academia and multinational companies, contributed to the discussion on industrial decarbonization through the adoption of TES solutions.
Christoph Richter, Executive Secretary at SolarPACES, underscored the essential role of thermal storage in the global energy shift: “The dynamic evolution of concentrating solar technologies for process heat, coupled with critical advancements in thermal storage, is fundamental to supporting the global transition to sustainable energy systems”.
Alberto Toril, European Manager at Breakthrough Energy, highlighted the vital role of MGTES Magaldi Green Thermal Energy Storage in the transition to cleaner industrial energy. He emphasized: “Thermal energy storage offers a renewable, scalable solution for decarbonizing sectors like pulp and paper, chemicals, and food & beverage. MGTES not only cuts CO2 emissions but also boosts energy efficiency in industries still reliant on fossil fuels”. He further noted that this “groundbreaking system is setting new standards for long-duration energy storage, helping industries reduce their carbon footprint while staying competitive”.
“The power-to-heat paradigm” said Davide Dotti, Business Innovation Director at Edison “is critical for the energy transition. By storing excess renewable electricity and converting it to heat, we can decarbonize industrial processes that require 24/7 thermal energy, tackling both energy intermittency and grid congestion challenges”.
“Thermal energy storage” highlighted Piero Salatino, Professor at Università di Napoli Federico II, “is poised to play an increasing role in power-to-heat systems. Our research has demonstrated the potential of fluidized bed technology, which enables highly efficient heat storage and recovery, contributing to the shift towards decarbonization”.
During the event, Federico Cuppoloni, Director at Cleantech for Italy, emphasized the strategic importance of thermal energy storage for industry decarbonization: “Thermal energy storage sits at the crucial intersection of renewable integration and industrial demand. It provides significant advantages in managing peak demand, reducing grid strain, and supporting decarbonization by supplying the necessary heat for industrial processes”.
Sergio Tieri, Principal at Arthur D. Little, stressed the transformative potential of power-to-heat technology for industrial decarbonization: “Power-to-heat is emerging as a vital solution for decarbonizing industries, leveraging low-cost renewable energy to supply sustainable heat. This technology not only eases peak grid demand but also offers immediate emissions-reducing opportunities in sectors like chemicals, food and beverage, and paper”.
Luke McLaughlin, R&D Mechanical Engineer at Sandia National Laboratories, highlighted TES thermal energy storage as a key technology in energy management and decarbonization: “Thermal energy storage shows promise for being a lower overnight capital cost solution and, when designed for asynchronous charge and discharge, it can achieve a much lower levelized cost of energy than lithium-ion systems across various load demands”.
Also participating were Fulvio Bassetti, R&D and Technical Sales Director at Magaldi Green Energy; Angelo Ferrante, Sales Area Director for Southern Italy at Schneider Electric; Claudia Paolucci, OEM Sales Area Manager for Central and Southern Industrial Automation Business at Schneider Electric; Mario Sepe, Managing Director at I.gi. - Industrial Offtaker I.gi; Massimiliano Masi, General Manager at Magaldi Middle East; Gioacchino Bellia, Head of Open Innovation, Technology Intelligence, and Innovation Culture at Enel Group; Federico Santi and Maria Carmen Falvo from "La Sapienza" University of Rome; Blaine Collison, Executive Director at Renewable Thermal Collaborative; Umberto D'Agostino, Sales Manager at Magaldi Green Energy.
THE FIRST MGTES INDUSTRIAL PLANT READY IN 2025
Following a strategic agreement signed in 2023 between Magaldi and Enel, the first industrial application of MGTES will provide green thermal energy to the food company IGI, a supplier to the Ferrero Group, located in the Industrial Development Area of Buccino. Once operational, the project will include the construction of a 2.5 MW photovoltaic plant and an 80-ton MGTES system with a daily storage capacity of 8.6 MWh of thermal energy. The MGTES system, which will be fully operational in 2025, will contribute to reducing IGI's total energy consumption by up to 20% and help save up to 600 tons of CO2 per year. The plant, currently under construction at IGI’s industrial facility in Buccino, Salerno, will be able to absorb energy not only from the 2.5 MW photovoltaic plant but also from the power grid. The ability to draw energy from the grid enables the selection of low-cost hours for energy intake, optimizing the costs of thermal energy release and generation (arbitrage), as well as offering flexibility services to the power grid (demand response).
