This company develops long-duration electricity storage technology using molten silicon to make intermittent renewables dispatchable. The system converts electricity into heat stored in silicon and then converts it back to power using thermophotovoltaic (TPV) cells. This approach offers low CAPEX, high energy density, and minimal degradation for 100% renewable energy integration.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
Intermittent renewable energy sources like solar and wind require efficient and cost-effective energy storage solutions to ensure a reliable and dispatchable power supply, regardless of weather conditions. Current energy storage technologies often face limitations in cost, scalability, energy density, and material availability.
Solution
Silbat provides a long-duration electricity storage technology that converts intermittent renewable energy into dispatchable power by storing energy as heat in molten silicon at 1410°C. Silicon's high latent heat of fusion and abundance contribute to the system's low cost and high energy density. When electricity is needed, the stored heat is converted back into electricity using thermophotovoltaic (TPV) cells, which are similar to photovoltaic cells but optimized for the infrared emission spectrum of the molten silicon. This approach enables a 100% renewable energy paradigm by providing a cost-competitive alternative to fossil fuel and nuclear power plants.
Target Audience
The primary target audience includes energy providers, grid operators, and industrial facilities seeking long-duration, cost-effective energy storage solutions to integrate with renewable energy sources.
Features
- Utilizes molten silicon (1410°C) as a storage medium, leveraging its high latent heat of fusion and abundance.
- Employs thermophotovoltaic (TPV) cells for efficient conversion of heat back into electricity.
- Achieves extremely low energy-related CAPEX, enabling cost-competitive renewable energy storage.
- Based on silicon, the second most abundant element in the Earth's crust, ensuring no material shortages.
- Allows 100% depth of discharge with minimal degradation.
- Offers high energy density, maximizing energy storage in minimal weight and volume.
- Operates silently due to the absence of noisy moving parts.
- Provides flexible sizing and modular designs, fitting modularly in shipping containers.
- Features fast startup times, similar to photovoltaic systems.