Saltes inspires with molten salt for industrial decarbonization
At a recent inspiration meeting organized by Energy Storage NL, the Saltes (formerly Brabetech) How their ThermalPod system with molten salt is helping industry become more sustainable. Saltes has been working on thermal energy solutions since 2014, with production in Eindhoven and R&D in Wijchen. The first pilots started in 2017, and Saltes is now well advanced with a commercial-scale project. Energy Storage NL is committed - including through these inspiration meetings - to improving the market conditions for thermal storage in the Netherlands.
Innovative salt composition
In collaboration with Yara International and TNO, Saltes developed a new salt composition: liquid from 130 °C, less corrosive and made from three fertilizers. This salt is ideal for heat storage and transfer (100-400 °C), especially in the food industry where steam is crucial. The system is safe (no chlorides, not pressurized) and circular: the salt can be decomposed and reused as fertilizer.
ThermalPod: Modular and flexible
The ThermalPod is a modular solution designed for easy integration into existing industrial sites. With separate modules for off-take, heat exchange, and propulsion, among others, the system is easily customized to the customer's heat profile. It converts electricity into heat in the form of steam, thermal oil or hot air with minimal on-site modifications. In the future, it can take over the entire heat demand, with a streamlined process.
Opportunities in energy transition
The Emissions Trading System (ETS) is forcing industry to use energy smarter due to rising carbon prices. The ThermalPod offers an alternative to heat pumps or e-boilers, with 8-10 hours of storage (or longer if desired). The business case is strong: payback time can be as low as 5 years in some cases, thanks to average heat production costs (LCOH) of 20-50 €/MWh and the ability to also provide services to grid operators (e.g. aFRR, GOPACS).
Future: scalable manufacturing
Saltes is working toward a mass production design for 2029 in three phases, focusing on smaller systems (2-5 MW) and further cost reduction. Saltes is building a ThermalPod with 26 MWh of storage, 8 MW of charging and 5.33 MW of discharge. This system flexibilizes the heat grid for three industrial end-users. With SDE++ and DEI+ subsidies, construction will start in late 2025.
The meeting made it clear that molten salt is a scalable, circular solution for industrial decarbonization, giving Saltes the opportunity to play a leading role in the energy transition.
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