90GWh plant to be operated by Rondo Energy and Siam Cement Group

California-based Rondo Energy Inc and Thailand Siam Cement Group (SCG) have announced plans to expand the production capacity of Rondo Heat Battery storage at SCG’s facility.

The capacity will increase to 90 GWh per year, up from 2.4 GWh, larger than any current battery manufacturing facility in the world.

The expansion will result in 12 million tonnes of CO2 savings annually, equivalent to removing over four million ICE vehicles from the road each year, the firms say.

Dubbed a ‘brick toaster’ battery, Rondo’s Heat Battery is made from refractory brick and can store high temperatures of up to 1500°C (2732°F) without the use of combustibles, critical minerals or liquids.

Rondo CEO John O’Donnell said: “SCG has been a phenomenal partner. We found we had a common vision and uniquely complementary capabilities to bring this technology to world scale to address the greatest challenge of our times.”

SCG Executive Vice President, Thammasak Sethaudom said: “Rondo offers an innovative solution to reduce the carbon emissions from industrial process heat used in factories worldwide. SCG can use Rondo’s technology to lower our own carbon emissions, and SCG Cleanergy can partner with Rondo to help our customers cut emissions.”

Rondo Energy has backing from Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy Ventures.