The University of Newcastle has patented a new type of thermal storage material, housed in blocks like LEGO®, which could help convert coal-fired power stations to run entirely fossil-fuel free.
The blocks, called Miscibility Gaps Alloy (MGA), are capable of receiving and safely storing energy generated by renewable energy sources.
The stored energy can then be used to run steam turbines at power stations instead of burning coal.
MGA blocks can be retrofitted to retired power plants or introduced to existing power plants to help them transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy.
A team of engineers at the university spent years perfecting the innovation to enable
renewable energy to be used reliably to meet consumer needs.
The blocks will solve renewable energy's previous issues of being generated in inconsistent peaks which overloaded the electric grid and not consistently meeting consumer's needs.
MGA blocks are stackable like LEGO® so they can be added or removed to scale the electric grid system up or down to meet market demand.
The blocks are made from non-toxic, 100 per cent recyclable material and can store millions of kilowatt hours of energy.
The MGA Thermal team are establishing a NSW-based manufacturing plant to commercially produce their modular storage blocks.
The plant will have the combined funding of close to $1 million from CP Ventures and an Australian Government Department of Industry, Innovation and Science Accelerating Commercialisation Grant.
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| Co-founders of MGA Thermal (L-R) Dr Alex Post and Professor Erich Kisi. |
