This Aussie startup's heat storage bricks pave a path for industrial decarbonisation
MGA Thermal has developed heat storage technology using molten alloys stored in modular bricks. Now, it is heading for a Series B and looking to scale up.
MGA Thermal founder Dr Alexander Post began his career as a materials science researcher at the University of Newcastle. His team focused on improving the efficiency of concentrated solar thermal power (CSP).
After developing a material to coat the receivers on CSP towers, they realised it could also be used to store energy for heating applications. The team participated in the CSIRO’s On Prime research commercialisation program in 2018, and by the following year, they had spun it out into a standalone venture.
In this interview with Capital Brief, Post explains how the unique heated alloy material works to store heat at temperatures up to 650 degrees Celsius, and its significant potential to replace gas and coal heating in industrial settings, which account for up to half of Australia’s final energy consumption.
The interview has been lightly edited for clarity and brevity.
What problem were you initially trying to solve with the heat storage technology?
