Rondo to open world's largest battery factory in Thailand

The planned expansion in production is expected to bolster various sectors, ranging from mining and metals, to fuels and food production in facilities around the world.

Pavel Molchanov, an energy analyst at Raymond James, recognizes the significance of electric thermal energy storage, stating, "Electric thermal energy storage can play a useful role in addressing the needs of the industrial sector, which has been slow to decarbonize. And from an energy security standpoint, it is worth noting that this technology avoids using scarce and expensive materials.

A cleaner battery

What sets these heat batteries apart is their ability to store and dispatch heat without the need for combustibles, critical minerals, toxins or liquids. Through harnessing the power of Rondo Heat Batteries, solar and wind energy can deliver continuous, zero-carbon industrial heat at a lower cost than traditional fossil fuels—a game-changer for industries worldwide.

These batteries boast a storage capacity of over 1 MWh per square meter, ensuring optimal area utilization within industrial facilities. Rondo emphasizes that their batteries can seamlessly integrate into existing process heating equipment, leading to significant emissions reductions without requiring a complete factory overhaul. Moreover, these batteries are expected to operate for over 40 years without any degradation in performance.

According to Our World in Data, the heavy industrial sector has proven to be one of the most challenging areas to decarbonize, accounting for approximately 5.7% of global emissions.

With the planned 90 GWh capacity, an estimated 12 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions will be abated annually. To put this into perspective, it is equivalent to removing over 4 million gas-powered vehicles from the road each year.

Jeremy Keller, SVP of Rondo Energy, highlights the positive impact: "Our studies of customer facilities are showing 50% to 90% reductions in emissions and reductions in operating costs of 30% or more."

Rondo secured a significant milestone in early 2022 by closing a $22 million Series A funding round led by Breakthrough Energy Ventures and Energy Impact Partners. This financial support reinforces the company's dedication to developing renewable energy heat batteries that minimize the carbon footprint of industrial processes.

John O'Donnell, the CEO of Rondo Energy said: "Decarbonizing industrial heat is a trillion-dollar market requiring far more storage than the electric grid. The technology is here now. The demand is here now. This planned expansion means that the capacity is here now as well."