Fourth Power, a Boston-based company, is creating ultra-high temperature “sun in a box” energy storage technology (hot thermal batter) based on thermophotovoltaic (TPV) cells to address the increasing demand for renewable energy on the grid.
According to reports, the technology is significantly more powerful and efficient than any existing thermal battery and ten times less expensive than lithium-ion batteries. Its innovative liquid metal heat transfer mechanism, which enables operation at nearly half the sun’s warmth, is the basis for its high-density battery system and its Guinness World Record achievement for high temperature.
The business has secured $19 million in Series A funding to expand its reasonably priced thermal energy storage system, which has the capacity to store energy for extended periods of time and revert it to electricity when required. Leading the funding round was the venture capital firm DCVC, with participation from the Black Venture Capital Consortium and Breakthrough Energy Ventures, which was founded by Microsoft founder Gates to support innovative energy ideas.
The money will enable the company to scale its thermal battery technology as well as build a 1 MWh-e prototype plant outside of Boston, which is anticipated to be finished by 2026.
It’s challenging to lessen our dependency on fossil fuels while maintaining a steady supply of energy without energy storage as renewable energy sources like solar and wind can only be used when they are generated. Nevertheless, Fourth Power’s method makes use of renewable energy to heat carbon blocks to temperatures so high they emit light like the sun, which is then released into the system as power as needed.
The technology used by Fourth Power transforms renewable energy into thermal energy, or heat, which may be stored until needed. The thermal battery heats stacks of carbon blocks until they glow white hot by heating liquid tin and transferring it through a closed-loop pipe system.
The technology uses thermophotovoltaic (TPV) cells to capture light from the burning, hot plumbing system and turns it into electricity when power is needed. This is comparable to conventional solar power generation, but instead of using solar light to create electricity, it uses light from extremely hot graphite. Even at its highest point of 2400°C, graphite is still colder than the sun’s surface, which is 5,500°C.
In comparison to alternative energy storage solutions, this one is made to optimize the value of renewable energy generation while providing grid operators with the most control and flexibility at the lowest possible cost.
Furthermore, because the system is scalable and modular, more carbon blocks may be added to extend storage, enabling the grid to grow along with the rise in renewable energy generation.
“Fourth’s Power’s solution is an engineered sun-in-a-box. We are thrilled to join forces with this exceptional team, whose best-in-class technology can greatly increase the production and use of renewable energy.”
Zachary Bogue, co-founder and managing partner at DCVC
The utility-scale energy storage strategy used by Fourth Power takes the anticipated rise in solar and wind power into account. With the help of their technology, renewable energy that would otherwise be wasted may now be stored and released over a range of times, from a few hours to several days. The ability to discharge in a matter of seconds helps grid operators maintain a dependable grid and uninterrupted power supply. Fourth Power is special and economical since it can discharge in a matter of seconds and can satisfy needs for both short-term (5–10 hour range) and longer-term (100 hour).
A number of records are also held by Fourth Power’s thermal battery technology, including the Guinness World Record for the greatest temperature pumping of liquid metal, which was achieved at 1200°C. In order to satisfy the market’s increasing expectations, the money will enable the company to expand its engineering staff and conduct rigorous durability testing beyond the building of its initial 1 MWh-e facility.
“Our vision has always been to tackle climate change by making renewable energy – which is the most cost-effective form of power – a reliable resource for the grid to use at all hours of the day. We need utility-scale energy storage that can grow with the grid to make this a reality on a global scale. With the support of our investors, Fourth Power will accelerate our mission and reshape the clean energy landscape by making grid-scale thermal battery storage the most cost-effective solution for power production. We are energized by the opportunity to create a better, more sustainable future.”
Fourth Power’s CEO, Arvin Ganesan.
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