Hardware Podcasts

Solving the conundrum of industrial heat

Catalyst · 8 Dec 2022 · 46m

What this episode covers

John O'Donnell, co-founder and CEO of Rondo Energy, explains how thermal storage can decarbonize industrial heat by bridging the gap between intermittent renewable electricity and the continuous, high-temperature energy required by factories. He details the economic and technical challenges of industrial processes, noting that while direct electrification is possible, it is often insufficient for 24/7 operations without storage. O'Donnell highlights Rondo's use of solid-state thermal storage to achieve over 95% efficiency, enabling facilities to leverage cheap, intermittent wind and solar power for continuous production. The conversation also explores the emerging trend of industrial grid defection, where facilities build behind-the-meter renewables to avoid rising transmission costs and secure low-cost energy.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Rondo Energy, Energy Impact Partners, Canary Media, Energy Hub, Bloom Energy, Scale Microgrid Solutions, CohnReznick Capital, McKinsey, Evolved Energy Research
Also
Long Duration Energy Storage Council

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