GERMANY

An Attractive Proposition

A magnetic cooling startup company in Darmstadt, Germany, has attracted the equivalent of more than AUD$10 million in funding to begin mass production of its beverage refrigerators, which are cooled by a temperature active metal. Rather than using conventional refrigerants, the magnetic cooling technology exploits the magnetocaloric effect in iron based rare earth alloys. These heat up when magnetised and cool down when demagnetised. Using a circulating heat exchange fluid, the heat and cold is captured from the material into water x heat exchangers. They are also adaptable to operating temperatures between 100°C and +80°C, with temperature spans up to 50K. And because of low operating pressures of 2–3bar, the company says maintenance is safe and easy.

The company, MagnoTherm Solutions, was established in 2019.

“Our magnetic cooling is not only up to 40 per cent more efficient than conventional solutions, but also produces no direct greenhouse gases,” says MagnoTherm co CEO Timur Sirman.

“With ‘Polaris’, we have developed the first magnetic beverage cooler, making us the world’s first commercial supplier of this technology at room temperature.” ■

Israel

WORLD’S FIRST GIGAFACTORY?

Israel based thermal energy storage firm Brenmiller Energy has inaugurated a factory targeting 4GWh of annual production capacity by the end of 2023, the first such gigafactory anywhere, it claims.

The company announced the opening of its thermal energy storage gigafactory in Dimona, Israel, saying it will be its primary manufacturing hub. Production lines are expected to reach full capacity by the end of the year and will be able to produce 4GWh of Brenmiller’s bGen modules annually.

Its bGen solution charges by heating rocks using electrical power, then stores that power at a temperature of 750°C, and discharges by releasing the accumulated heat into pressurised water, generating steam for electricity or for industrial heating.

“The need for energy independence throughout the EU is indisputable,” says the European Investment Bank’s Thomas Östros. “Renewables alone, however, will not solve our energy or climate crisis. Long duration energy storage is critical to back up renewable intermittency, decarbonise our electric grids and industrial factories, and ensure a secure energy supply.” ■

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