Revolutionizing Energy Storage: Fourth Power’s Thermal Battery Technology
In a world where renewable energy is increasingly becoming the norm, one of the biggest hurdles remains: storing electricity efficiently and affordably for extended periods. Fourth Power, a Cambridge-based startup, is tackling this challenge with a groundbreaking approach reminiscent of a James Bond gadget—using superheated liquid tin and hermetically sealed chambers to store energy. While the technology may sound like something out of a spy film, its purpose is far more practical: making solar and wind power viable as round-the-clock energy sources.
How It Works: A Peek into the Future of Energy Storage
Fourth Power’s innovative thermal battery system operates on a principle that’s both simple and ingenious. When energy storage is needed, electricity from the grid is used to heat blocks of carbon within insulated, argon-filled chambers. This process is anything but conventional. The real magic happens when energy is needed again—the system circulates molten tin, heated to a searing 2,400°C (4,352°F), through graphite pipes. These pipes are the only cost-effective material capable of withstanding such extreme temperatures. The molten tin then passes through special devices known as thermophotovoltaic cells, which convert the intense heat into electricity by capturing infrared light. This process not only stores energy but also converts it back into usable electricity with remarkable efficiency.
A Promising Future: Cost-Effective and Scalable
What sets Fourth Power apart is its ambitious goal: to make energy storage so affordable that solar and wind energy becomes the default choice for 24/7 power. The company is on track to achieve this with its first full-scale battery system, slated for commercial release in 2028. If successful, this technology could undercut the costs of both lithium-ion batteries and peaking natural-gas plants, making it a game-changer in the energy sector.
Arvin Ganesan, Fourth Power’s co-founder and CEO, is confident in the technology’s potential. “Our projections are for the first-of-a-kind — the first ones to market — that they’ll be cost-competitive,” he told TechCrunch. With a focus on daily charging and discharging cycles, the system can provide continuous electricity for eight hours or more, doubling the capacity of most grid-scale lithium-ion batteries. Additionally, the insulation system, made from petroleum coke—a waste product from oil refining—maintains stable temperatures, losing only 1% of stored energy per day.
Testing and Funding: Laying the Groundwork for Success
Fourth Power is currently conducting extensive testing on smaller-scale versions of the system to ensure durability and performance. The company is also in the design phase of a 1-megawatt-hour demonstration battery, a crucial step toward commercial viability. To support these efforts, Fourth Power has raised $20 million in a Series A Plus round led by Munich Re Ventures, with participation from Breakthrough Energy Ventures and DCVC. This funding builds on a previous $19 million Series A round in 2023, underscoring investor confidence in the technology’s potential.
The Road Ahead: A vision of Affordable Energy Storage
Fourth Power’s long-term vision is nothing short of transformative. The company aims to reduce the cost of storing electricity to $25 per kilowatt-hour, a fraction of the cost of lithium-ion batteries. This ambitious target is achievable, according to Ganesan, due to the simplicity of the technology and the streamlined supply chain involved. “There’s not a lot of moving pieces. There’s not a lot of players in the supply chain, which means that you can get to cost targets in a fairly straightforward way,” he explained. This simplicity could be the key to unlocking widespread adoption.
Conclusion: A New Era for Renewable Energy
As the world continues its shift toward renewable energy, innovations like Fourth Power’s thermal battery technology are essential. By addressing the critical challenge of energy storage, Fourth Power is paving the way for a future where solar and wind power are not just supplementary but the primary sources of energy. With its groundbreaking approach, efficient design, and promising cost projections, Fourth Power is poised to play a pivotal role in the global transition to sustainable energy. The next few years will be crucial as the company works toward commercializing its technology, but one thing is clear: the future of energy storage is looking brighter than ever.
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