TECHNOLOGY LICENSING OPPORTUNITY

Phase Change Thermal Energy Storage Solution for Renewable Energy Integration

Designed for efficient storage and conversion of excess electrical energy into thermal energy using Al, AlSi PCM, and supercritical water transport fluid.

Opportunity: Idaho National Laboratory (INL), managed and operated by Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC (BEA), offers the opportunity to explore a license and/or collaborative research agreement to commercialize the Phase Change Thermal Energy Storage Solution for Renewable Energy Integration technology. This technology transfer opportunity is part of a dedicated effort to convert government-funded research into job opportunities, businesses, and, ultimately, an improved way of life for the American people.

Overview: As the global shift towards renewable energy gains momentum, managing the intermittent availability of electrical energy generation from solar and wind becomes increasingly challenging. Conventional battery storage solutions can be costly and limited in capacity, creating a need for innovative thermal energy storage systems.

Description: This Phase Change Thermal Energy Storage system is designed to manage energy production and distribution by storing excess electrical energy as thermal energy and distributing it when demand is high. Utilizing aluminum-silicon (AlSi) phase change material (PCM) and supercritical water transport fluid, our system efficiently converts electrical energy into thermal energy and stores it in thermal energy storage media within hot and cold energy storage devices. This groundbreaking technology enables the seamless integration of renewable energy sources into the grid, ensuring a stable and continuous energy supply.

Benefits:

• Efficient storage and conversion of excess electrical energy into thermal energy

• Reduces reliance on costly high-capacity batteries.

• Addresses challenges associated with the intermittent availability of solar and wind energy.

• The customizable melting point of AlSi PCM for tailored operation temperatures

• Utilizes supercritical water as a heat transfer fluid for optimized efficiency.

• Seamless integration with renewable energy sources such as solar panels and wind turbines

• Environmentally friendly and sustainable technology

Applications:

• Renewable energy producers and utilities

• Energy storage solution providers

• Government entities responsible for energy policies and regulations

• Industrial facilities seeking energy storage solutions.

Development Status: TRL 3: proof-of-concept.

IP Status: Provisional Patent Application No. 63/478,821, “Thermal Energy Storage and Harvesting Systems Comprising Thermal Energy Storage Media and Related Methods,” BEA Docket No. BA-1212.

INL seeks to license the above intellectual property to a company with a demonstrated ability to bring such inventions to the market. Exclusive rights in defined fields of use may be available. Added value is placed on relationships with small businesses, start-up companies, and general entrepreneurship opportunities.

Please visit Technology Deployment’s website at https://inl.gov/inl-initiatives/technology-deployment for more information on working with INL and the industrial partnering and technology transfer process.

Companies interested in learning more about this licensing opportunity should contact Andrew Rankin at td@inl.gov.