Decarbonizing heat production in industrial processes and contributing to the competitiveness of the production system. MGTES – Magaldi Green Thermal Energy Storage is the first zero-impact energy storage system capable of providing thermal energy to industries, fully replacing the use of fossil fuels, primarily gas and diesel. Patented and developed by the Magaldi Group, a global leader in the handling of high-temperature materials, MGTES is set to revolutionize the LDES long-duration energy storage market.
Magaldi hosts international researchers and experts in LDES long-duration energy storage
On October 7th and 12th, during the international conference SolarPaces 2024, the operational MGTES plant installed at the Buccino (Salerno) facility is being presented to an international audience of researchers, scientists, and representatives from institutional, industrial, and entrepreneurial sectors. The Open Days also serves as the backdrop for two intensive days of meetings among representatives from some of the leading utilities and international entities specializing in research and innovation in the energy sector - including Sandia National Labs, Breakthrough Energy, University of Federico II, Edison, LDES Council, Arthur D. Little, CNR, Enel, Renewable Thermal Collaborative, and others - to explore the latest advancements and developments in new storage technologies for industrial decarbonization and long-duration energy storage.
The impact of heat on global energy consumption: the made-in-Italy solution
About one-third of all energy consumed globally comes from the demand for industrial heat, and over 75% of process heat—essential for manufacturing products across all sectors—is generated directly from fossil fuels (WBCSD, 2021; Systemiq/Breakthrough Energy, 2024; LDES Council, 2022; IEA, 2019). Furthermore, according to the International Energy Agency, the demand for industrial heat is expected to increase by 16% globally from 2023 to 2028 (IEA, Renewables 2023). In a scenario of growing integration of renewable energies into the electrical system and the urgency to decarbonize the industrial sector, long-duration thermal energy storage technologies capable of providing Power-to-Heat services become crucial.
MGTES designed to reduce emissions from industrial processes in energy-intensive sectors
The Italian technology MGTES – Magaldi Green Thermal Energy Storage addresses the dual need to replace gas for heat production in industrial processes and to overcome the intermittency of renewable sources, also providing the electric grid with a tool for flexibility and balancing. MGTES – Magaldi Green Thermal Energy Storage is a disruptive technology because it can decarbonize industrial processes that require heat between 150° and 400°C, typical of industries such as food & beverage, paper, plastics, and chemicals, which currently rely primarily on fossil fuels. MGTES is based on over 10 global patents filed by Magaldi, which contribute to making the technology’s performance reach the highest levels of efficiency and reliability compared to competitors. Other significant application areas include desalination, particularly in the Middle East, and the green mining sector in Australia and Latin America.
LDES Long Duration Energy Storage, the discussion in Italy among international experts
On Monday, October 7th, the following experts spoke: Alberto Toril Castro, Manager for Europe at Breakthrough Energy; Fulvio Bassetti, R&D and Technical Sales Director at Magaldi Green Energy; Davide Dotti, Business Innovation Director, Strategy, Corporate Development & Innovation Division at Edison; Piero Salatino, from "Federico II" University of Naples; 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; and Massimiliano Masi, General Manager at Magaldi Middle East.
On Saturday, October 12th, the speakers will be: Alex Campbell, Director of Policy and Partnerships at LDES Council - Long Duration Energy Storage; Christoph Richter, General Secretary – SolarPACES; Federico Cuppoloni, Director - Cleantech for Italy; Carla Bevilacqua, R&D Engineer - Magaldi Green Energy; Sergio Tieri, Strategy Innovation Executive - Arthur D. Little; Gioacchino Bellia, Head of Open Innovation, Technology Intelligence and Innovation Culture - Enel Group; Federico Santi, "La Sapienza" University of Rome; Maria Carmen Falvo, "La Sapienza" University of Rome; Fulvio Bassetti, R&D and Technical Sales Director - Magaldi Green Energy; Blaine Collison, Executive Director - Renewable Thermal Collaborative; Luke McLaughlin, R&D Mechanical Engineer - Sandia National Labs; Angelo Fontana, Director - National Research Council (CNR); Mario Sepe, Managing Director - I.gi.; Umberto D'Agostino, Sales Manager - Magaldi Green Energy.
Mario Magaldi, President of Magaldi: "Our technologies supporting the competitiveness and sustainability of the global industrial system"
“Founded 95 years ago with innovation at its core,” said Mario Magaldi, President of the Magaldi Group, “our company continues to develop reliable and sustainable solutions for industries worldwide. Italy has the resources and expertise to play a leading role in the energy transition process and, even more importantly, in the cultural transition process that now requires combining competitiveness with environmental awareness. It’s a difficult challenge, but solutions like MGTES show that it can be won. MGTES offers an immediate answer to the need for decarbonizing industrial processes and progressively replacing gas. With MGTES, we can ensure high efficiency even for industrial processes that require high temperatures”.
MGTES Technological features
MGTES is a zero-impact system, built using common materials, primarily silica sand and steel, both 100% recyclable. Additionally, it contains no chemicals or rare earth elements and does not produce pollutants. The materials used in the system are easily sourced worldwide. Another key feature is its flexibility: MGTES generates energy that can be supplied to industrial plants, the electrical grid, or thermal power stations, decoupling energy production from its consumption. As a storage system, MGTES also demonstrates excellent efficiency, storing energy over a 24-hour period thanks to its patented thermal insulation system. Moreover, MGTES has extremely compact dimensions: a plant capable of storing 60 MWh occupies only 200 square meters. It is also a safe system, with no fire risk as opposed to batteries, and is easy to install and maintain.
The first 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, 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).
