(translated with ChatGPT without further editing)
Exergy3 is one of the most exciting emerging companies in the industrial heat transition, turning surplus renewable electricity into flexible high-temperature process heat. In this interview, they share how their pilot plant in Scotland, innovative business models, and energy-market strategies are driving the scale-up of their technology.
Dear Markus, Exergy3 was included in the “50 to Watch” list by the Cleantech Group in October. Would you like to tell our members what you produce and what services you offer?
“Industrial process heat accounts for around 25% of global CO₂ emissions. At the same time, we waste large amounts of green energy because renewable generators have to be curtailed when energy demand is lower than supply or when the grid is overloaded. To solve this problem, Exergy3 develops modular, high-performance thermal storage systems. In short, our systems convert green electricity into heat of up to 1,200 °C. We store this heat and can later deliver it flexibly at temperatures between 100 and 1,000 °C.”
How does your technology work, and what makes it—or Exergy3—so special?
“Our pilot plant at the Annandale Whisky Distillery in Scotland is currently being commissioned. We have installed three modules with a total storage capacity of 30 MWh. For charging, we actively operate the system on the electricity markets—under the condition that enough energy is stored by the start of each shift at 6:30 a.m. to cover the distillery’s entire heat demand.
For discharging, we blow air through our storage units. At Annandale, we then feed this air at around 530 °C into a steam boiler. The boiler produces steam at approximately 220 °C and 10 bar, which supplies the entire distillery with heat. Our control system is fully synchronized with the distillery and dynamically adjusts the energy output to the current demand. The overall efficiency of the system is around 96%.
Our goal is to radically reduce global CO₂ emissions. However, this is only possible if we develop hyper-scalable solutions that significantly outperform the status quo. To bring a commercially competitive offering to market, we are pioneers in three areas:
Our technology is exceptionally compact: our 10-MWh modules fit into a standard garage and can therefore be produced, transported, and installed easily and cost-effectively. In Annandale, for example, it took only four days to position the entire installation. In addition, the system is designed to flexibly adapt its charging and discharging power to the available grid capacity.
We have consistently optimized our technology for cost efficiency—during manufacturing, installation, and operation. Nevertheless, electricity costs naturally remain the decisive factor. This is why we are developing various models to get as close as possible to the gas price. In Annandale, we have already managed several times to undercut the gas price. However, both in Germany and the UK, grid fees and additional electricity charges are significantly higher than for gas, which makes our work challenging.”
Who is your technology particularly suited for?
“We can provide both green steam and direct heat—i.e., hot air. In addition, we can operate in hybrid mode. This means that our systems can be run simultaneously or alternately with fossil fuels. In this way, both installation and ongoing fuel costs can be optimized.”
Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?
“We are currently planning our expansion into continental Europe and are looking at Bavaria as a strategic bridgehead. We are searching for project partners who could serve as the site for our next installation.
At the same time, the European Investment Bank is preparing a ‘Heat Auction,’ under which potential users of our technology will be compensated for each ton of CO₂ avoided.
So if anyone is interested in rethinking their energy supply in a profitable way, they are welcome to contact us through the Chemie Cluster!”
