Antora Energy launches 2-MW TPC cell production line in California

US thermal batteries developer Antora Energy has built what it says is the world’s first dedicated manufacturing line for thermophotovoltaic (TPV) cells and is now commencing production, it announced on Tuesday.

The start-up has established the 2-MW production line at its Sunnyvale headquarters in California. It said it sources materials through supplier partnerships across a number of states, including in the midwestern and southern US.

Viewed as an alternative to conventional heat engines for industry, the TPV technology converts light emitted from a high-temperature heat source using cells similar to solar photovoltaics (PV). Antora says its TPV cells have demonstrated heat-to-electricity conversion efficiencies greater than 40%, which is a new industry benchmark.

The company intends to utilise the fabricated cells in its thermal battery solution, in which carbon blocks are heated by inexpensive renewable electricity. The system can store thermal energy in these blocks to later provide process heat up to 1,500 degrees C or convert the energy back to electricity via the TPV cells, on demand.

“This technology breakthrough could have major ramifications in sectors beyond manufacturing, including the electric grid, the built environment, and transportation. A new class of efficient, lightweight, and scalable heat engines could transform how industry thinks about thermal energy and electricity generation,” commented co-founder and CEO Andrew Ponec.

Antora is backed by investors such as Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy Ventures and Shell Ventures, among others.

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