Thailand’s SCG Cleanergy and US-based Rondo Energy have joined hands to launch Southeast Asia’s first industrial heat battery. Leading US developer of industrial heat battery technology, Rondo Energy will install the first unit at Siam Cement Public Company Limited (SCG)’s cement plant in Saraburi Province. SCG Cleanergy is a subsidiary of SCG.
This partnership will enable 24-hour clean energy storage and usage in industrial operations, strengthening business competitiveness and accelerating the transition toward a low-carbon economy across the region.
Attapong Sathitmanothum, Chief Executive Officer of SCG Cleanergy, said, “SCG Cleanergy is dedicated to collaborating with world-class partners who possess strong expertise in integrating advanced technologies and helping deliver clean energy solutions to our customers across ASEAN. Our partnership with Rondo Energy brings advanced clean energy innovation, the ‘Heat Battery’, to empower industries with clean energy around the clock. It perfectly aligns with SCG’s concept of ‘Inclusive Green Growth’ and our ‘Net Zero 2050’ goal, reflecting SCG’s determination to drive Thai and ASEAN industries toward a sustainable low-carbon economy.”
The ‘industrial heat battery’ was installed at SCG’s cement plant, where large-scale high-temperature process heat is required. The project enhances the plant’s ability to replace fossil-based heat with clean thermal energy in its production process. SCG Cleanergy plans to expand this solution to other SCG operations and industrial clients across ASEAN, aiming for commercial-scale implementation by 2026.
Eric Trusiewicz, Chief Executive Officer of Rondo Energy, added, “Rondo’s Heat Battery technology has been proven in operation, demonstrating its ability to convert ‘clean electricity’ into stored ‘clean heat’ for industrial use. The unit at SCG’s cement plant in Saraburi is currently the only heat battery in the world capable of generating high-pressure steam for real industrial production, using Rondo Heat Battery (RHB33) technology. This achievement represents a major step forward in reducing industrial carbon emissions globally and provides a model that can be replicated in many regions. This collaboration clearly demonstrates how advanced global technology can be combined with the efficiency and agility of local supply chains.”
The technology
The Industrial Heat Battery is designed as a modular system that can be configured and scaled to suit different industrial applications, ensuring maximum efficiency for each project. Its operation consists of three key stages:
Charge: The system is charged with electricity generated from renewable sources such as wind and solar energy, or from the grid, typically for six to eight hours per day.
Store: The clean electricity is converted into heat through radiant heating elements with zero energy loss, then stored in Thermal Media capable of maintaining temperatures up to 1,500°C for several days.
Discharge: The battery continuously delivers heat for steam generation with an efficiency of up to 97%, enabling uninterrupted 24-hour operation.
This pioneering project also received research funding from the Science, Research, and Innovation Promotion Fund through the Program Management Unit for Competitiveness Enhancement (PMUC). The initiative highlights strong public–private sector collaboration in accelerating the adoption of clean energy technologies that support measurable industrial decarbonization, strengthen energy security, and improve cost management flexibility.
