Project Description

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UC San Diego is partnering with Redoxblox on a first-of-its-kind thermochemical energy storage (TCES) demonstration project, showcasing how long-duration electricity-to-electricity storage can provide grid resilience and emergency power.

The Challenge

• Decarbonization of high-temperature industrial processes – Traditional energy storage cannot efficiently store and deliver heat at extreme temperatures.
• Need for Long-Duration Energy Storage (LDES) – Current battery technologies are not cost-effective for storing and delivering energy over 24+ hours.

The Solution: Redoxblox Thermochemical Energy Storage
Redoxblox’s thermochemical storage system charges by using electricity to heat metal oxides to 1500°F, efficiently storing energy for long periods of time. When needed, the system releases stored energy as heat, which can be used directly to replace fossil fuel-derived industrial heat or used to generate electricity via modified gas turbines or boilers, with additional heat used to power absorption chillers for a combined power and cooling solution.

This system will be installed adjacent to the University’s East Campus Utility Plant and directly interconnected to the campus 12 kV medium-voltage electrical distribution system.

System Capabilities:

• 10 MWh Thermal Capacity – Enough stored energy to run a 100 kW microturbine for 24+ hours as well as provide excess waste heat to power additional equipment such as absorption chilling technology.
• 5-Hour Charging Window – Rapid energy storage using a 2 MW interconnection with UC San Diego's 12 kV grid.

Project Goals & Objectives‍

1. Prove Fast-Charging & Grid Integration
Test the system’s ability to fully charge within 5 hours via a 2 MW grid interconnect.

2. Assess the Community & Economic Benefits
Conduct research on the social and environmental impact of deploying grid-scale thermal storage.

Project Execution & Measurement

• Permitting, Construction & Deployment
• Technology Installation & Commissioning
• System Operations & Data Collection
• Community & Grid Impact Study – UCSD will evaluate regional energy resilience benefits.

Performance Metrics & Validation:

• Thermal Energy Storage Capacity – Measuring the ability to store and release high-temperature heat efficiently.
• Electricity-to-Electricity Efficiency – Evaluating system round-trip efficiency for power generation.
• CO₂ Reduction & Sustainability – Analyzing the environmental benefits of replacing fossil-based generators.
• Backup Power Reliability – Ensuring 24+ hours of energy availability for medical operations.

This project will serve as a living research initiative, with quarterly progress updates and final reporting in December 2026.

Project Results
(Results will be updated as testing progresses.)

Initial Findings:‍

• Charging & Storage Performance – Validating energy input/output efficiency over multiple charge cycles.
• Long-Duration Reliability – Assessing system operation under extended discharge scenarios.
• Integration with Medical Facilities – Measuring the impact of stable power and cooling on healthcare operations.

Next Steps:‍

• System Optimization & Scaling – Refining technology for larger-scale applications.
• Industry Adoption & Commercialization – Expanding the technology to industrial and utility-scale deployments.
• Regulatory & Policy Engagement – Using data to inform energy policies on long-duration storage solutions.

This project is a major step toward commercializing high-temperature thermal energy storage, paving the way for carbon-free industrial heat and long-duration grid backup.