Koolen captures stake in German energy storage company

Koolen Industries is at it again. In its quest to lead the energy transition, the Hengelo-based clean-energy conglomerate is pouring three million euros into German thermal energy storage specialist Kraftblock. Citing energy storage as a cornerstone in reducing industrial emissions and a shift to renewable energy, Koolen is looking to boost Kraftblock’s nanotechnology-based energy storage system that captures excess heat – an inevitable byproduct of industrial operations – and reuse it as energy for production.

Kraftblock’s high-temp storage system is significantly more efficient than other thermal storage systems on the market, which mostly use salt or concrete as a storage medium. The German company’s solution uses granules, consisting of 85 percent recycled material, storing temperatures of up to 1,300 degrees. By utilizing a modular structure, the system is cost-effective and easily scalable. Additionally, it has a seemingly infinite lifespan of some 15,000 cycles, which compares to lithium battery cells that are limited to a maximum of 8,000 cycles.

“By capturing and utilizing heat that would normally go to waste, Kraftblock’s technology makes it possible to decarbonize industry,” says Kees Koolen, CEO of Koolen Industries. “By storing renewable energy, it makes it possible to deliver clean energy to people whenever and wherever they need it, for instance, during times when there’s no sun or wind.”