ArcelorMittal announced an investment in Electrified Thermal Solutions through its XCarb® Innovation Fund, which backs technologies supporting the decarbonisation of steelmaking.

Electrified Thermal, a US-based company, has developed the Joule Hive™ Thermal Battery (JHTB), a system that electrifies industrial heat generation. Originating from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and developed over a decade, the patented technology uses conductive firebricks stacked in an insulated steel container. Renewable electricity is run through the bricks, storing carbon-free thermal energy at temperatures up to 1,700°C. Heat is then discharged by passing air or gas through the brick channels for use in industrial applications.

High-temperature heat is critical in steelmaking, including blast furnace stoves, slab reheating, and finishing processes. The JHTB system could therefore play a key role in reducing fossil fuel use and decarbonising steel production. A 1MW/5MWh demonstration plant is under construction in Texas, with commissioning planned for late 2025. ArcelorMittal and Electrified Thermal have also signed an MoU to explore validation tests and pilot deployments.