Batteries: a stepping stone to green heat

Ilan Toledano, Wattco, Canada, outlines how batteries are fuelling the evolution of industrial heat technology.

Nearly a century before the term ‘global warming’ was coined, heater technology was already moving towards electricity. Thomas Edison’s first electric heater was released in the 1880s. At that point, it was more of a stepping stone. The technology essentially used lightbulb elements, a then-recent invention, to generate heat. It was not particularly efficient, and coal was generally used to create the electricity that powered it. This was not very green nor practical. By the early 1900s, Albert Marsh had expanded on this idea to create infrared heating elements. This formed the basis for modern electric heaters for residential and industrial use. The first evolution of electric heaters left a lot to be desired.

However, it was an important stepping stone in the process of delivering the efficient, reliable, and low-emission technology that is now seen in heat technology. Even before government and social pressure started moving industries towards electric heating for environmental reasons, there was already a transition towards electric heaters. They offered greater performance and longevity, consistent quality, and lower operating costs. With a renewed emphasis on carbon emission reduction, this transition to electricity is growing even stronger. Batteries are the next stepping stone on the route to greener and more efficient power for industrial heating.

The evolution of industrial heat technology

The energy industry is in a state of flux. Old sources of energy, such as oil and coal, are becoming more expensive, less available, and are having a measurable impact on the environment globally. These non-renewable power sources have been the go-to solution for decades.

While new solutions are emerging, the transition to renewable and lower-impact energies presents a big challenge. Batteries are becoming an important part of the solution.

Compatibility with electric heaters

One of the valuable capabilities of batteries in transitioning energy sources for electric heat technology is their compatibility.

Modern electric heaters are easily set up to receive power from batteries.

Perhaps the most recognisable example of this comes from Tesla’s recent foray into heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC). Elon Musk’s work on producing high-efficiency heat pumps is targeted to transform residential heating systems. Battery-powered HVAC systems reduce carbon emissions and increase efficiency for savings in the home.

The heat pump technology relies on Tesla’s battery advancements and their compatibility with electric heating systems. While the focus is on residential use in this early stage, the future aim is to scale into the industrial sector.

Remote power access

Electric heat was not a viable option in remote areas with limited or no access to a power grid. Heat technology either relied on inefficient combustion heaters or had electricity generated through emission-producing fossil fuels, neither of which favours the direction in which this technology should be heading.

Batteries provide a solution for remote locations and areas with unstable power grids. No longer are generators or other fossil fuel alternatives a necessity; battery technology has advanced to hold a charge longer, and deliver more power. This makes it reliable for delivering power when there is an outage or lack of reliable access. Because batteries are already compatible with electric heaters, they offer a good jumping-off point for transitioning to greener power, even in remote locations.

Renewable energy

Renewable energy sources such as wind and solar have been a target for decades. Recent years have witnessed their technology finally evolving to meet the intensive energy demands of modern industry. In some locations where wind or solar is consistent enough over long periods of time, these alternative energy sources can even outperform traditional options.

Batteries play two important roles in transitioning heat technology to these energy sources. The first role falls back on their compatibility. Batteries use power generated from solar and wind sources and deliver them to electric heating systems. This reduces the need for purchasing new heating equipment, so long as electric heaters are already in place.

The second is that batteries actually help to improve renewable energy generation. A longstanding challenge with sources such as solar was that they did not have a good storage option. Solar panels could generate power all day long, but could not use that power in the evening or on cloudy days. Any unused energy had to be sold back to the grid, or was lost.

Advances in battery technology have helped to make renewable energy storage a reality. Working in conjunction with heaters, batteries could store energy and keep it usable for longer. This reduced the need for other energy sources during off-peak times, and limited lost energy. Altogether this is helping to make renewables a viable option for many industries.

Carbon capture

Even if all industries switched to renewable energy overnight, a carbon emission problem would still exist (albeit a significantly reduced one). Billions of tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) have been pumped into the air, at an increasing pace. Whilst this is happening, the transition to green energy is still moving fairly slowly. A solution is required to reduce these emissions while the move to renewable energy is underway.

One of the biggest focuses for tackling climate change in this transitory phase is carbon capture. Carbon capture aims to pull carbon out of the air, store it, and reuse it. This has a double effect. It reduces the amount of carbon that has already been released through capture and storage. Then, when it is reused, new carbon is not generated. This should help to reduce overall output during a multi-decade transition phase.

Electroswing batteries are used with heat technology to capture and reuse carbon emissions. They function using a mixture of thermal and electrical energy; offer cheaper sequestration when pulling carbon from the air; and even have favourable comparisons to the cost and effectiveness of capturing carbon directly at the production site, which is generally the most affordable and effective option.

Battery advances

The adoption of lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries transformed the understanding of what a battery could be. Again, Tesla is the most recognisable example of its use. The Tesla Roadster, a space-bound electric car, ran on Li-ion batteries. These batteries’ sheer power and storage capabilities made the electric car a practical option, as they overcame issues such as long charge times, short ranges, and low power. In just a few years after the Roadster’s release, it seemed as though every car manufacturer had their own electric options underway.

Li-ion batteries come with challenges, though. They have their own issues with regards to environmental impact, especially when it comes to mining the materials. In addition to this, the materials are expensive, raising the price of products. Additionally, when operating at high temperatures, they are more volatile and flammable, with the possibility of chemical leakages.

An alternative is Lithium-Ion-Phosphate (LFP) batteries, which still offer a good range but have significantly lower costs and greater stability. This helps to make them more affordable and safer.

Improving Li-ion technology is just one example of the important work that is taking place in the battery world today. As batteries have proven their value in industrial heating, far more work is being done to find new battery-based solutions. One of the more recently adopted innovations is the iron flow battery, which can go through thousands of cycles with no degradation. This means greatly-improved battery life and reliability. Even with currently higher initial costs, they offer greater long-term value with a clean and reliable output. Iron flow batteries have lifespans exceeding double that of Li-ion. As such, they are poised to take over the number one spot soon.

Conclusion

Battery improvement and innovations are occurring at an exponential rate. These improvements are already making them an ideal solution during the transitory period of switching from fossil fuel reliance to green and renewable energy sources. If these advances maintain their current pace, batteries may not just be a stepping stone for green heat technology, but rather its foundation.