Fourth Power’s innovative technology, which is 10 times more energy efficient than lithium-ion batteries, uses blocks of liquid tin and graphite heated to a scorching temperature of up to 2,500°C to store and release energy. Driven by a pump, liquid tin circulates through the system, transferring heat to the graphite blocks and then to the energy harvesting system using TPV elements.
Known for their exceptional efficiency in generating energy from heat, TPV cells play a critical role in the performance and power density of the thermal battery. Despite the expected energy efficiency of about 50 percent, Fourth Power says its thermal batteries will cost less than $25 per kilowatt-hour, compared to lithium batteries estimated to cost $330 per kilowatt-hour.
The company expects to complete construction of a 1-megawatt-hour prototype near Boston in 2026.
Source: Ferra
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