A new California-based startup company has a plan to help decarbonize and electrify one of the biggest issues in industrial development.
According to Canary Media, Calectra may have come up with a solution to the problem of industrialized heat by using superheated bricks.
Lower-temperature industrial heating — for activities like cooking or some chemical work — has seen a big push toward electrification and going green. However, electrifying processes that require higher temperatures, such as glass-making or smelting metals like iron and aluminum, has been a much tougher task.
Calectra's solution to the problem is to electrify and superheat special bricks by directly electrifying them, generating both light and heat. The hot air generated around the superheated bricks would then be fed into industrial processes, allowing them to heat what needs heating.
Getting the air to the temperature required for those tasks is incredibly energy-intensive, and even the level of electricity required would be cost-prohibitive for many manufacturers without the use of dirty fuels like natural gas or coal, Canary Media reported.
"Industrial heat accounts for one-quarter of the global energy consumption and is a massive, $450 billion market," Juha Lindfors, a partner at Lifeline Ventures, said in a statement on its funding of Calectra, "Decarbonizing industrial heat presents a huge opportunity."
Can't afford solar panels? Here's how to get them without paying for purchase or installation Palmetto's revolutionary LightReach program gives you all the benefits of solar power without the upfront costs. LightReach lets you lease solar panels with no money down, making it easier than ever to lock in energy savings. Palmetto assumes all risk and responsibility for the panels you lease, which means you'll get reliable performance without unforeseen costs. To get started, just answer a few basic questions about your home and learn how much you can save. Learn more → |
Watch now: This simple device could save thousands of animals
Calectra's technology is still in the very early stages of development; the company hopes to expand its team to begin testing ideal materials for its processes and scale up its testing to make sure the process works at a level needed for industrial production.
But if they're successful, the use of electrified bricks could go a long way toward eliminating one of the largest planet-warming gas producers.
Will America someday get all its energy from renewable sources?
Yes
very soon 
Yes
by 2050 
Click your choice to see results and speak your mind
"We're laser-focused on building a solution for high-temperature heat at low cost and zero carbon," Calectra's co-founder Pauliina Meskanen said, per Canary Media. "It's risky, but it's worth giving it a shot for the sake of the climate."
Superheated materials are also under investigation as a way to store energy.
TCD Picks » Quince Spotlight
These best-sellers from Quince deliver affordable, sustainable luxury for all
Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Cool Picks
