Fourth Power’s Sci-Fi Thermal Batteries Could Be Cheaper Than Pricey Natural Gas Power Plants
Fourth Power’s sci-fi thermal batteries could be cheaper than pricey natural gas power plants, and that’s shaking up the future of clean energy. Instead of relying on lithium-ion or costly gas peaker plants, the startup is betting on superheated liquid tin and futuristic thermal storage to keep renewable power flowing around the clock.
Image Credits:Fourth Power
This innovation doesn’t just sound like science fiction — it could redefine how we store and deliver energy. By building large-scale, long-duration thermal batteries, Fourth Power hopes to make solar and wind a no-brainer choice for reliable 24/7 electricity.
How Fourth Power’s Thermal Batteries Work
At the heart of this breakthrough is a clever process. Electricity from the grid heats blocks of carbon inside insulated chambers filled with argon gas. When power is needed, molten tin heated to 2,400°C (4,352°F) flows through graphite pipes — one of the few materials capable of withstanding that extreme heat.
Instead of traditional turbines, the system uses thermophotovoltaic (TPV) cells — devices that work like solar panels but capture infrared light from the glowing tin. These TPV cells then convert the stored heat back into electricity.
A Startup with a Bold Timeline
Based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Fourth Power has been developing this technology for four years. After refining its molten tin approach, the company is preparing to build its first full-scale thermal battery.
If the rollout goes according to plan, commercial-scale systems will be available to customers by 2028. The big selling point? Costs that could undercut both lithium-ion batteries and natural gas plants used for peak demand.
Why This Matters for Clean Energy
Grid-scale lithium-ion batteries typically discharge for about four hours. Fourth Power’s sci-fi thermal batteries could deliver electricity for eight hours or more — doubling storage time and making renewables far more practical for daily use.
That’s a potential game-changer. If solar and wind can be paired with affordable, long-lasting thermal batteries, utilities may no longer need to rely on fossil fuels to stabilize the grid.
The Bigger Picture
Energy storage is one of the toughest challenges in the clean energy transition. Natural gas plants are expensive, polluting, and often built just to meet peak demand for a few hours a day.
By creating an alternative that’s cheaper, cleaner, and scalable, Fourth Power could accelerate the move away from fossil fuels. As CEO Arvin Ganesan explains, “Our projections are for the first-of-a-kind — the first ones to market — that they’ll be cost competitive.”
The idea of using molten tin and futuristic TPV cells may sound like something from a Bond movie, but the potential impact is very real. Fourth Power’s sci-fi thermal batteries could be cheaper than pricey natural gas power plants and may become a cornerstone of renewable energy infrastructure in the next decade.
If successful, this technology could mark the tipping point where clean energy storage finally becomes cheaper, more efficient, and ready to power the future.
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