Rondo Energy and Rio Tinto Launch Design Phase for Australian Thermal Storage Plant

Rondo Energy and Rio Tinto have commenced front-end engineering and design (FEED) for a 360 MWh Rondo Heat Battery facility in Gladstone, Australia. The project, which features a 30 MW discharge capacity, received support from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) to advance industrial decarbonization efforts.

The installation aims to convert intermittent renewable electricity into constant heat for industrial applications, potentially replacing natural gas-fired boilers. This transition is viewed as a critical component in the efforts to reduce carbon intensity in energy-intensive heavy manufacturing sectors.

By leveraging ARENA funding, the project aims to demonstrate the commercial viability of high-temperature thermal energy storage at scale. Industry analysts observe that such integration projects are increasingly necessary to balance the grid and provide reliable thermal inputs where traditional fuel sources are being phased out.

The current design phase will provide the necessary technical specifications and cost estimates required to proceed toward a final investment decision for the facility’s construction.