Concrete thermal battery with 150 kWh capacity targets data center cooling

Engineering researchers at Lehigh University have built a concrete thermal battery that stores 150 kWh and withstands temperatures up to 500°C. The system captures waste heat from servers and releases it for cooling, industrial processes and power generation, with round-trip efficiency above 70%.

• Prototype stores 150 kWh and operates at temperatures up to 500°C
• Round-trip charging and discharging efficiency exceeds 70%
• Server waste heat is upgraded to 120–220°C for absorption chillers
• Technology licensed to a private energy company with federal funding