ARENA funds $1.27m MGA Thermal energy storage project

It has a planned capacity of 5MWh. 

Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) announced it will be granting $1.27m funding for MGA Thermal Pty Ltd’s Medium Duration Thermal Energy Storage (MDTES) project. 

It has an expected budget of $2.85m. It will feature a pilot unit that will be able to demonstrate the generation of steam from stored thermal energy.

“The electricity transition is going to require a variety of storage technologies that are able to discharge over a range of timeframes from hours to days,” ARENA CEO Darren Miller said.

“MGA Thermal’s novel approach could make a real difference in the medium and longer-term storage category, supporting hydrogen and pumped hydro.”

Read more: Over $3.7b battery storage projects compete for ARENA funding

The MDTES has a planned capacity of 5 megawatt-hours. It will demonstrate charging and discharging of up to 500 kilowatts. 

It will be located MGA Thermals' head office and manufacturing facility in New South Wales. 

“With potential deployments for industrial heating end uses, MGA Thermal could play a valuable role in decarbonising both the electricity grid and heavy industry, which often requires high-temperature heat and steam for their manufacturing needs,” Miller also said.