TELF AG illustrates two important innovations in the energy sector
The centrality of stockpiling
Soon, the diffusion of renewable energies will also largely depend on the technologies linked to their stockpiling in order to make them available in moments of greatest need. Nowadays, as is well known, the development of these technologies is linked to the use of various strategic raw materials, which allow the creation of special batteries capable of keeping multiple storage systems alive and perfectly active. But what are the frontiers of this sector? One of the most noteworthy challenges is the development of new storage systems based on using non-rare raw materials and capable of ensuring much higher performance at a relatively low cost.
From this point of view, two of the most attention-grabbing projects come from Italy, a country that in 2023 was notable for creating approximately 5.5-5.8 gigawatts of new plants from renewable sources. The first innovation in the storage sector comes from the Magaldi Green Thermal Energy Storage company, which has recently developed a battery (powered by renewable sources) capable of storing energy and releasing it in the form of high-temperature steam. This company’s system – which has already attracted the interest of numerous international players – works through a layer of sand capable of retaining the temperature for up to 100 hours, generated thanks to special steel modules filled with silica sand. The most thought-provoking aspect is that the energy released in this way can be directly used in various industrial processes, thus contributing to achieving the climate neutrality objectives set for companies. The testing of this new technology is imminent: by the end of the year, it is expected to create a battery that will make it possible to accumulate 12 thermal mwh. According to Letizia Magaldi, vice president of the company, this technology could contribute significantly to the electrification of industrial processes, which until now had been hindered by some structural limitations of heat pumps.
The Potential of Energy Dome
Another made-in-Italy project is that of Energy Dome, a start-up founded in 2020 by Claudio Spadacini. This company has recently patented a technology that makes it possible to capture solar and wind energy and its subsequent storage inside a battery, all thanks to carbon dioxide. This technology has already achieved international success, attracting the attention of several operators directly involved in the energy sector. At the end of 2023, the company received 35 million euros in financing from the Breakthrough Energy Catalyst fund and another key support from the European Investment Bank. Energy Dome technology will soon be able to be fully used in different parts of the world, from Japan to Chile, from Oman to Argentina. One of the most fascinating aspects of this system is that it is based on the use of raw materials such as steel, which ensures significantly lower initial costs compared to other technologies. According to the company’s founder, Claudio Spadacini, the nations that can implement new technologies for producing clean energy will undoubtedly secure a competitive advantage over others, attracting investments in the most varied sectors.
