Thermophoton

About Thermophoton

Thermophoton, a spin-off from the Technical University of Madrid, was established in 2021 to commercialize a novel energy storage solution. The company's genesis dates back to 2012, with research and development projects on high-temperature thermal energy storage initiated at the university. A significant milestone was the AMADEUS project, funded by the European Commission starting in 2017, which aimed to develop a new generation of materials for ultra-high temperature energy storage and conversion. This foundational research led to the formal creation of Thermophoton by a team of researchers and business professionals.

The leadership team’s expertise is central to the company's direction. CEO Carlos Bermejo brings financial acumen and experience in commercializing disruptive technologies and industrializing production processes. CTO Alejandro Datas has a profound background in the core technology, holding a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering with a research focus on very high-temperature thermal energy storage and thermophotovoltaic (TPV) conversion, supported by over 40 scientific publications and 5 patents.

Thermophoton is focused on decarbonizing the heat and electricity sectors through its Power-to-Heat-to-Power storage technology. The system addresses the intermittency of renewable energy sources by converting surplus electricity into thermal energy. This is achieved by melting silicon alloys at temperatures exceeding 1000°C. The stored heat is then converted back into electricity on demand using thermophotovoltaics (TPV). This process provides dispatchable heat and power, aiming to offer a more cost-effective and long-duration storage alternative to conventional Li-ion batteries. The technology leverages the low cost and high energy density of silicon alloys.

The company's business model targets two primary market applications. The first is 'front of the meter' (FTM), where the solution can participate in grid balancing, manage trading positions, and sell flexibility in energy markets. The second is 'behind the meter' (BTM), helping clients with on-site renewable generation to enhance self-consumption, reduce electricity bills, and meet local electricity and heating demands. As the technology is still in development, commercial products and services are not yet available, with the current focus being on scaling and market entry validation.