Get ready for a game-changer in Southeast Asia's energy landscape! Rondo Energy and SCG Cleanergy have just unveiled a groundbreaking innovation - Southeast Asia's first industrial heat battery, now operational in Thailand. But here's where it gets controversial... this battery isn't just a regular energy storage system; it's a powerful tool for generating clean electricity, and it's got the potential to revolutionize industries across the region.
At a special ceremony held at SCG's cement plant in Saraburi Province, Thailand, the two companies announced the successful launch of a 2.3MWth heat battery. Charged by the grid and a nearby floating solar farm, this battery produces superheated steam, which then drives a steam turbine, generating a constant supply of clean electricity for cement production.
"Today marks a significant milestone for Rondo," said Eric Trusiewicz, Rondo's CEO. "We're not just launching our first unit; we're introducing a new modular approach that will change the game for industrial energy storage. This is our first heat battery in Southeast Asia, and it's the only one worldwide delivering high-pressure steam for electric power generation."
The unit unveiled today is a 33 MWh Rondo Heat Battery, the first built on their innovative modular platform. Rondo now offers a range of heat battery sizes, from 33 MWh to over 1GWh, all designed with a common core, making them highly adaptable and cost-effective. These batteries can be tailored to meet the specific needs of various industries, from smaller-scale food and beverage producers to massive chemical plants and metals refineries requiring over 100 MWth.
Rondo's modular platform offers a unique blend of benefits. It provides customers and investors with the certainty of a mass-manufactured, standardized design while allowing for customization in heat output, steam conditions, storage size, and charging rates. This flexibility ensures each project delivers maximum value.
One of the most exciting aspects of this project is its global reach with a local focus. Rondo and SCG Cleanergy collaborated to build this unit entirely in Thailand, utilizing local suppliers extensively. This success story demonstrates how Rondo's brick-based storage technology can leverage local supply chains efficiently while maintaining the cost and speed advantages of a standardized design.
SCG Cleanergy is now taking the lead in developing clean industrial heat projects powered by Rondo's technology across Southeast Asia. This announcement follows Rondo's recent commissioning of the world's largest industrial heat battery in California, solidifying their position as global leaders in the fast-growing electric thermal energy storage (ETES) industry.
The integration of this heat battery with the cement plant's heat recovery system is a significant development. It's the only heat battery worldwide driving a steam turbine, enhancing the plant's heat recovery turbine power output. "This project proves that transitioning industries to clean energy is not only possible but also economically viable and quick," said Eric Trusiewicz. "Our team and SCG built this groundbreaking system in just eight months. It's a blueprint for how industries worldwide can go electric."
The strong partnership between Rondo and SCG is driving the rapid scaling of manufacturing and deployments to meet the growing demand for industrial decarbonization globally. Thailand is emerging as a global hub for clean-heat manufacturing, and the companies are proud to be at the forefront of this movement.
"The integration of the Rondo Heat Battery is a turning point for Southeast Asian industries," said Attapong Sathitmanothum, CEO of SCG Cleanergy. "Heat-intensive sectors like textiles, chemicals, and food processing are booming here, and SCG Cleanergy is committed to providing low-cost clean energy solutions to help our regional customers decarbonize as they grow. This aligns perfectly with SCG's vision of Inclusive Green Growth, which aims to transform industries towards a low-carbon society in collaboration with all sectors while ensuring the sustainable growth of businesses, communities, and the environment. This milestone also brings us closer to achieving SCG's Net Zero 2050 goal."
SCG, a leading ASEAN business conglomerate celebrating its 112th year, is committed to delivering innovative, sustainable solutions through its core businesses in cement, chemicals, packaging, and clean energy. With a strong focus on ESG principles and a purpose-driven approach, SCG aims to improve quality of life and create a sustainable future.
Rondo, on the other hand, is purpose-built for industrial facilities. Their heat batteries are constructed from durable, proven materials and are designed for seamless integration with existing industrial equipment and processes. Whether replacing aging fossil-fueled heating systems or complementing existing setups, Rondo's batteries require no disruptive changes to customers' operations.
With multiple full-scale industrial heat batteries already in deployment globally, Rondo is actively scaling up its operations. They currently operate the world's largest industrial heat battery, a 100 MWh Rondo Heat Battery. Rondo Energy is headquartered in California but has a global presence with teams across North America, Europe, and Australia. These heat batteries, also known as electric thermal energy storage (ETES) or thermal batteries, are set to play a crucial role in the transition to clean energy.
This innovative partnership between Rondo Energy and SCG Cleanergy is a testament to the power of collaboration and innovation. As they continue to push the boundaries of clean energy, we can expect to see more exciting developments that will shape the future of industries worldwide.
