The companies will explore deployment of heat
batteries in Aramco's global facilities to reduce operating costs
and support emissions reduction objectives
ALAMEDA,
Calif. and RIYADH, Saudi
Arabia, May 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Aramco, one
of the world's leading global energy and chemicals company,
yesterday entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with
Rondo Energy, the leading provider of lower-carbon industrial heat
and power. The companies have started engineering studies for a
first industrial scale deployment of Rondo Heat Batteries that
would contribute to reduction of emissions from Aramco facilities,
with subsequent scale up to 1GWh.
The companies further intend to assess the potential for
additional scale deployment of the technology at Aramco facilities
worldwide, and to explore joint development of novel applications
of the Rondo Heat Battery technology, such as hydrogen production
and carbon capture. Aramco Ventures concluded an equity investment
in Rondo in July 2023.
The Rondo Heat Battery supplies continuous energy from stored
wind and solar power at the gigawatt scale and high temperatures
needed for industrial processes.
"Aramco has stated its ambitions to achieve Net Zero Scope 1 and
Scope 2 operational greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 across its
wholly owned and operated assets, and sees opportunities to build
substantial lower-carbon new energy business," said
Ali Al-Meshari, Aramco Sr. Vice President of Technology,
Oversight & Coordination. "Innovative technologies deployed at
scale are needed to reduce the costs of emissions reduction, and we
are investing heavily in developing these through our R&D,
venture capital and technology deployment programs. We see Rondo's
technology having widespread potential application globally and in
the Middle east specifically, backed by a team with a track record
of delivery."
Widespread application – industry, hydrogen, carbon capture,
desalination
Beyond deployments planned at Aramco facilities, the companies will
also assess the potential to develop other applications for Rondo
Heat Batteries. The companies plan a joint R&D investigation to
explore the applicability of Rondo's technology in hydrogen
production, carbon capture ('CCS') and direct air capture ('DAC')
projects.
The technology can also be applied in large-scale solar
desalination facilities. As renewables become more deeply
integrated in the grid, today's thermal desalination facilities
face economic and operating challenges. Rondo Heat Batteries can
quickly convert these facilities to deliver water and power with
lower carbon emissions and lower cost than replacing
them.
Local Value Creation
Rondo Heat Batteries store energy
in long-proven brick materials which can be cost-effectively
produced with the Kingdom's mineral resources. The companies will
assess the potential of establishing large-scale energy storage
manufacturing in the Kingdom.
"Rondo is working with one of the world's biggest energy
producers towards solving one of the world's biggest energy
challenges – low-cost clean energy for industry," said Rondo CEO
John O'Donnell. "We're thrilled to
announce this MoU with Aramco aimed at delivering lower-carbon
energy solutions that can help Aramco achieve their decarbonization
ambitions, and support the world's critical needs for solar
desalination and clean hydrogen."
The signing of the MoU was witnessed by US Secretary of Energy,
Jennifer Granholm, and His Royal
Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman
Al-Saud, Minister of Energy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Rondo and its
partners were recently selected to receive funding from the US
Department of Energy (DoE) for several US-based RHB deployments,
and this collaboration with Aramco highlights the DoE's Office of
International Market Development goal of enhancing and revitalizing
U.S. competitiveness in the rapidly expanding global clean energy
and infrastructure marketplace, while creating clean energy jobs in
the U.S. and ensuring stable and secure supply chains.
About Rondo Energy
Rondo is purpose-built for
industrial facilities: its Heat Batteries are constructed from
proven, durable materials and are designed for seamless integration
with existing industrial equipment and processes. Whether deployed
as a drop-in replacement for retiring fossil-fueled heating
equipment or as a resilient complement to existing systems, Rondo
requires no disruptive changes to customers' operations.
Rondo currently operates the world's highest temperature,
highest efficiency commercial energy storage system, at Calgren
Renewable Fuels in Pixley,
California. Working with its partner Siam Cement Group
(SCG), Rondo is expanding the production capacity of its storage
media from its current 2 GWh/yr to an industry-leading 90 GWh per
year. Rondo Energy is headquartered in Alameda, California.
About Aramco
Aramco is a global integrated energy
and chemicals company. We are driven by our core belief that energy
is opportunity. From producing approximately one in every eight
barrels of the world's oil supply to developing new energy
technologies, our global team is dedicated to creating impact in
all that we do. We focus on making our resources more dependable,
more sustainable and more useful. This helps promote stability and
long-term growth around the world. www.aramco.com
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SOURCE Rondo Energy