Kraftblock

Kraftblock GmbH, founded in 2014 by Dr. Martin Schichtel and Dr. Susanne König, is a German company focused on decarbonizing industrial heat. The company has developed an innovative thermal energy storage system designed to help industries transition away from fossil fuels and improve energy efficiency. Kraftblock's core technology revolves around a proprietary storage material, largely composed of upcycled materials, capable of withstanding temperatures up to 1,300°C (2,400°F). This allows for the storage of significant amounts of thermal energy, which can then be released as needed for various industrial processes. The system is modular and scalable, making it adaptable to diverse industrial requirements across sectors such as steel, glass, ceramics, food and beverage, chemicals, and paper. Kraftblock's solutions aim to address the intermittency of renewable energy sources by storing excess energy as heat and to recover and reuse waste heat from industrial operations, thereby reducing reliance on fossil fuels and lowering carbon emissions.

The company offers several system configurations, including Net-Zero Heat Systems that convert renewable electricity into heat, Waste Heat Recycling Systems that capture and reuse previously vented industrial heat, Mobile Heat Systems for transporting stored thermal energy, and Power Generation Systems that can utilize surplus heat to produce electricity. Kraftblock's technology is positioned as a key enabler for the energy transition in hard-to-abate sectors. By providing a cost-efficient and durable energy storage solution with a long operational lifetime (estimated up to 40 years), Kraftblock aims to make sustainable heat a viable option for a wide range of industrial applications. The company has garnered support from various investors, including Shell Ventures, Finindus, and Koolen Industries, and is expanding its operations in Europe, with an eye on markets in the US, Latin America, and East Asia. Notable projects include a collaboration with PepsiCo to install a large-scale high-temperature storage system at a food production facility.