Graphite Energy launches Australia's first eTES system

Graphite Energy has launched Australia's first commercially viable electric thermal energy storage (eTES) system, which has the potential to significantly contribute to the decarbonisation of the manufacturing sector by 2035.

The eTES system aims to leverage renewable electricity, offering manufacturers energy savings of 30-40% by reducing reliance on gas, as explained by Graphite Energy's Chief Operating Officer Byron Ross. He stated, "By taking advantage of Australia's abundant natural resources and storing renewable electricity, which now generates over 40% of grid-connected power, Graphite Energy's eTES system circumnavigates volatile pricing in both the gas and electricity markets."

According to the CSIRO, the adoption of eTES systems could result in up to 8,500 installations across the manufacturing industry by 2035, potentially reducing gas expenditure by AUD $1 billion annually and cutting carbon dioxide emissions by four million tonnes per year. Dominic Zaal, Manager of the Renewable Heat Industrial Decarbonisation Program at CSIRO, highlighted the ongoing focus on renewable electricity, noting, "The renewables focus to date has been on the electricity sector, but industrial emissions now exceed those from electricity, representing 42% of Australia's total energy end-use, over 50% of which is for process heat."

The Climate Change Authority's Sector Pathways Review from September 2024 identified the reduction of industrial process heat emissions as crucial for Australia to meet its net zero targets by 2050. Mr Zaal emphasised the importance of the eTES system in this context, stating, "By providing a renewable solution for industrial process heat, eTES is a fundamental game changer for Australian and global manufacturing, and graphite's high energy density and ability to transform energy to heat quickly ensures it is the superior foundation for such a system."

Graphite Energy is actively pursuing funding to accelerate the deployment of its eTES systems to the food manufacturing sector, which constitutes 30% of Australia's manufacturing industry. This system has already been operational for over a year at a large food manufacturing site, demonstrating its capability to provide commercial-scale renewable process heat.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese recently visited the Mars Petcare Australia facility in Wodonga, where he observed the application of Graphite Energy's technology. Byron Ross remarked, "It is now possible for food manufacturers to gain 24/7 access to low-cost renewable heat, acquiring and storing wholesale electricity when prices are low, then transforming it to heat quickly when required."

Mr Ross also outlined the economic benefits of the eTES system, stating, "Storing large amounts of energy in a small area, a Graphite Energy eTES system can reduce the average cost of process heat for a food manufacturer by up to AUD $40 per megawatt hour, while displacing up to 60,000 GJ of gas and associated emissions."

The scalable and modular design of the eTES systems is intended to allow incremental decarbonisation efforts that align with companies' carbon reduction targets, thus limiting risks associated with variable renewable energy generation. Mr Ross commented, "By reducing the amount of gas burnt over time, in alignment with a company's carbon reduction targets, the risks that may arise from lack of wind or sun to power renewable electricity, is limited."

He concluded with potential commercial impacts, noting, "As energy use is reduced and significant cost savings are gained, Graphite Energy's eTES systems should enable lower costs for domestically sold products, production growth and greater local investment."

By 2026, Graphite Energy plans to have constructed 20 eTES systems at their newly completed Lake Sustainable Energy Precinct, a USD $10 million manufacturing and research facility at Lake Cargelligo.