Australia’s mega thermal battery set to revolutionise industrial heating

Clean technology companies MGA Thermal and Knode have cracked the code for Australia's largest industrial-scale thermal energy storage project, promising to transform how heavy industry heats up, according to an announcement on Monday.

The massive 180 megawatt-hour “thermal battery” will pump out 20 tonnes per hour of clean, high-temperature steam to Western Australian industrial sites. Think of it as a giant heat bank that stores renewable energy when the sun shines and wind blows, then releases scorching steam on demand.

The pre-feasibility study, conducted with mining giant Tronox and engineering firm GHD, proves the technology can go toe-to-toe with gas and coal on price whilst slashing emissions.

MGA Thermal chief executive Mark Croudace said the breakthrough tackles a problem that has stumped the renewable energy sector for years. “This represents a genuine breakthrough in industrial decarbonisation,” Croudace said on Monday, noting few other renewable technologies can deliver the blistering heat industrial processes demand.

Knode chief executive Chris Nelson warned that without clean steam solutions, carbon-heavy industries face an uncertain future as global buyers increasingly shun high-emission products. “We're adopting an innovative approach that engages multiple industrial stakeholders upfront,” Nelson said.

The project enters detailed engineering design before construction kicks off in 2026, with the thermal powerhouse firing up by late 2027. Once operational, it will connect to Western Australia's electricity grid and position the state as a decarbonisation pioneer.

Picture: supplied