They may not look like anything special, but rocks are having their moment as a potential energy storage solution — and could make popular refreshments even more eco-friendly.

As detailed by Interesting Engineering, Brenmiller Energy is using crushed rocks to capture and store heat for days at a time. The Israel-based company’s bGen technology can then be used to provide reliable renewable energy to manufacturers, helping to significantly reduce harmful pollution associated with industrial heating and energy combustion. 

The crushed rock battery works by affordably transforming electricity into steam or hot air, according to Brenmiller Energy CEO Avi Brenmiller.

“The bGen can reach up to 750°C/1400°F and discharge steam, hot water, or hot air at temperatures of around 500°C/1000°F, which are more than sufficient to meet the demand of low- and medium-temperature industrial processes,” Brenmiller told the online magazine, noting that food and beverage production are among the sectors that could be supported.

The transition to clean energy is part of a worldwide effort to limit the warming of our planet to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above preindustrial levels, as dirty energy fuels like gas, oil, and coal are the primary cause of human-driven overheating. 

Large-scale storage is an essential part of moving toward a cooler future without grid disruptions, though, since solar and wind power aren’t generated at a consistent and around-the-clock clip.   

About Rock Energy Storage

Rock Energy Storage is an LLC, founded un 2024 and incorporated in the state of New York. Rock’s corporate HQ is in the Bronx, NY. Rock is an organic green shoot company created to specifically serve and develop the Thermal Energy Storage (TES), decarbonization and electrification markets in North America. Rock has the licensing rights to sell, assemble and service the Brenmiller thermal energy storage systems domestically. Using their patented bGen system, the Brenmiller TES system is the industry-leading product in the emerging TES marketplace.

View source version on thecooldown.com: https://www.thecooldown.com/green-tech/crushed-rock-battery-energy-storage-tech/