Giant 'heat battery' which could revolutionise the industrial sector switched on by energy minister

An energy minister has switched on the UK's first ever giant 'heat battery' which could revolutionise the industrial sector in Britain by eliminating the need for fossil fuels.

The groundbreaking new heat battery - which can store enough energy to brew 2,500 pints of beer - was unveiled for the first time today as an affordable alternative to fossil fuels.

The new technology, created by a pioneering British firm, retains massive amounts of heat and is charged by electricity like batteries used in homes.

One of the batteries, made by Hampshire-based heat specialists Caldera, can deliver enough steam to power a steam locomotive.

Lord Alan Whitehead CBE, Minister of State of Energy Security and Net Zero, turned on the UK's first giant heat battery at Caldera's site in Fareham

Caldera's new batteries are specifically designed to help a wide range of industrial sectors including food, drink, pharmaceuticals, chemicals affordably move away from fossil-fuelled heat.

The technology uses a solid core made from aluminium and iron pellets, enclosed within a vacuum insulation cover to retain heat efficiently.

It is charged using electricity, including cheaper off-peak or renewable power, and stores that energy as heat until industrial sites need it.

The company says its system offers one of the lowest cost and fastest routes for industrial sites to electrify heat. It can be used by businesses as an alternative to or to complement existing boilers.

It is particularly well suited to manufacturers with “peaky” steam demand, where short bursts of high-temperature heat can make conventional electrification difficult, slow or expensive.

Caldera says the system can store up to 5MWh of heat energy – enough to brew 2,500 pints of beer - and deliver steam in excess of 200 degrees Celsius, equivalent to 16 bar steam – which is enough power to drive a steam locomotive.

Caldera, which has previously secured £10m of investment from German industrial group GEA, is seeing strong interest from a range of sectors across the UK, Europe and further afield.

The company says the visit underlines the opportunity to turn government-backed UK innovation into a global clean heat business.

Lord Whitehead CBE said: "“Heat is vital to so many industrial processes, from brewing beer to pet foods and pharmaceutical products – but this heat is still typically generated from fossil fuels.

“By using low carbon electricity to create and store heat, then releasing it when industry needs it, this British technological innovation provides a practical alternative to fossil fuels.

"I am encouraged to see Caldera’s commercial scale system coming into operation, with their pioneering innovation attracting investment into the UK.”

James Macnaghten, CEO of Caldera, said: "We are really grateful to Lord Whitehead for visiting Caldera and to the UK Government for its long-term support.

"We still live in an age of steam, it is so critical to many of our industrial process, and it remains one of the hardest parts of the economy to decarbonise.

"Alongside that for many manufacturers the challenge is not constant heat demand. It is short, sharp peaks of usage that force them to keep relying on fossil-fuel boilers.

“The Caldera approach gives those sites a faster, more affordable way to electrify.

"Our technology can be installed alongside or to fully replace existing systems, charged when electricity is cheaper and cleaner, and used to deliver steam exactly when production needs it.

“With the backing of GEA and growing demand from across Europe and further afield, we believe our innovation is on the cusp of scaling internationally.

"The opportunity now is to turn a UK breakthrough into a global clean heat business.”