Israeli Startup To Provide Clean Energy Storage To Spain

An Israeli company that stores renewable energy by heating crushed rocks will contribute to the decarbonization of Spain’s electricity grid, under a new agreement.

Brenmiller Energy creates electricity during the day through rooftop solar panels, which it uses to boil water to make steam. That steam in turn heats crushed rocks to extremely high temperatures that can hold the heat for several days.

When there’s demand for electricity but the sun isn’t shining, the heat can be used again to boil water. Steam from that water produces clean electricity through the use of a generator.

Now, Brenmiller’s thermal energy storage system will be integrated into the new green energy facilities that are part of the SolWinHy Project, which aims to decarbonize the European Union’s industrial, power generation and transportation sectors by building green energy projects – starting with Spain. 

The first green facility will be built in Arcos de la Frontera, Spain, and will produce 30,000 tons of green e-methanol per year – a low-carbon liquid alternative to fossil fuels. Brenmiller will be able to store at least 55 MWh of renewable energy produced by the new facility. 

The project is being run by a special purpose company, SolWinHy Cadiz, which is jointly owned by two European developers of green energy projects, the Green Enesys Group and Viridi RE. 

“We are pleased to see our initial MoU with Green Enesys and Viridi come to fruition with this specific SolWinHy Project that has already completed the key feasibility and proof-of-concept milestones,” said Brenmiller’s Chairman and CEO, Avi Brenmiller. 

“Green e-methanol has great potential to replace fossil fuels in heavy carbon emitting industries,” he said.

“We are working diligently with our partners to complete the front-end engineering and design which will move us into the phase where Green Enesys and Viridi will lead the financing of the joint project.”