Found Energy, a Boston-based startup, is developing a method to utilize aluminum scrap as a source of energy for industrial processes, aiming to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Since its inception in 2022, the company has focused on techniques to quickly release energy from aluminum on a smaller scale. Recently, it launched a larger version of its aluminum-powered engine, reportedly the largest aluminum-water reactor constructed to date.
In early 2024, this reactor is scheduled to be installed at a tool manufacturing facility in the southeastern United States. The facility plans to use its own aluminum waste as fuel, providing heat and hydrogen for its operations. The technology employs a catalyst to unlock energy stored within aluminum metal, prompting questions about its potential to convert a significant amount of aluminum scrap into a sustainable, zero-carbon fuel source.
In a related development, Rondo Energy has activated what it describes as the world’s largest thermal battery. This energy storage system can absorb electricity and deliver a stable heat supply. The thermal battery concept involves heating a robust material, such as bricks, with electricity and retaining that heat until needed for industrial processes or electricity generation.
Thermal batteries have the potential to play a significant role in reducing emissions, as approximately 20% of current energy demand is utilized for industrial heating, predominantly from fossil fuels. However, Rondo Energy intends to employ its thermal battery in enhanced oil recovery, a practice that has faced criticism for perpetuating existing polluting infrastructures. As these technologies advance, their broader implications for energy sustainability and emissions reduction remain a point of interest.
Source: https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/10/23/1126428/the-download-aluminiums-potential-as-a-zero-carbon-fuel-and-whats-next-for-energy-storage/