# Decarbonizing Industrial Heat with John O’Donnell, CEO at Rondo Energy

- Show: [Hardware to Save a Planet](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet)
- Published: 2023-05-11
- Length: 44m
- Episode: 26
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2023-05-11-decarbonizing-industrial-heat-with-john-odonnell-ceo-at-rondo-energy
- Listen: https://podcasts.fame.so/e/4n90x0q8-john-o-donnell-decarbonizing-industrial-heat

## Summary

John O’Donnell, CEO of Rondo Energy, explains how his company uses electric thermal energy storage to decarbonize industrial heat, a sector responsible for 74% of industrial energy use. He details the Rondo Heat Battery, which stores heat in brick using resistive elements to deliver continuous high-temperature steam or air, offering a cheaper alternative to hydrogen for near-term decarbonization. O’Donnell discusses the company's $22 million Series A, its 'heat as a service' business model, and the strategic advantage of using abundant, low-cost materials like clay compared to exotic minerals required by other storage technologies.

## Chapters

- [0:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2023-05-11-decarbonizing-industrial-heat-with-john-odonnell-ceo-at-rondo-energy#t=3) Introduction: John O’Donnell and the Industrial Heat Challenge
- [2:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2023-05-11-decarbonizing-industrial-heat-with-john-odonnell-ceo-at-rondo-energy#t=132) The Economics of Decarbonization and Intermittency
- [6:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2023-05-11-decarbonizing-industrial-heat-with-john-odonnell-ceo-at-rondo-energy#t=363) Rondo’s Electric Thermal Storage Technology
- [13:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2023-05-11-decarbonizing-industrial-heat-with-john-odonnell-ceo-at-rondo-energy#t=829) Comparison with Hydrogen and Grid Constraints
- [19:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2023-05-11-decarbonizing-industrial-heat-with-john-odonnell-ceo-at-rondo-energy#t=1155) Business Model and Retrofit Strategy
- [23:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2023-05-11-decarbonizing-industrial-heat-with-john-odonnell-ceo-at-rondo-energy#t=1431) Unit Economics and Material Supply Chain
- [26:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2023-05-11-decarbonizing-industrial-heat-with-john-odonnell-ceo-at-rondo-energy#t=1604) Technical Design and AI Controls
- [34:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2023-05-11-decarbonizing-industrial-heat-with-john-odonnell-ceo-at-rondo-energy#t=2079) Scaling, Manufacturing, and Future Outlook

## Topics

- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Rondo Energy (company)
- Rondo Heat Battery (product)
- Breakthrough Energy Ventures (company)
- Energy Impact Partners (company)
- Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Solving the conundrum of industrial heat](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-12-08-solving-the-conundrum-of-industrial-heat) (Catalyst)
- [The story of steam](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-06-19-the-story-of-steam) (Catalyst)
- [Andrei Klochko: Reversible Heat Pumps, Decarbonization, and Earth vs Mars | Hard Tech Podcast #6](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hard-tech-podcast/2023-06-14-andrei-klochko-reversible-heat-pumps-decarbonization-and-earth-vs-mars-hard-tech) (Hard Tech Podcast)
- [138. How Thermal Batteries Will Scale Sustainable Energy ☀️🔋](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-09-05-138-how-thermal-batteries-will-scale-sustainable-energy) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [Unlocking the renewable energy revolution with Ramya Swaminathan of Malta Inc.](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-10-12-unlocking-the-renewable-energy-revolution-with-ramya-swaminathan-of-malta-inc) (How I Built This)

## Citing this page

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