US firm to build 3,275°F brick battery to cut steel, cement emissions

Electrified Thermal Solutions, a Boston-based MIT spinout, has partnered with HarbisonWalker International (HWI), a leading U.S. refractory materials supplier, to manufacture electrically conductive firebricks called E-bricks. These E-bricks are integral to Electrified Thermal’s Joule Hive Thermal Battery, a system that converts renewable electricity into and stores heat at extremely high temperatures—up to 3,275°F (1,800°C). This heat level is sufficient to power energy-intensive industrial processes such as steel, cement, and glass manufacturing, which traditionally depend on fossil fuels. By producing E-bricks at HWI’s existing U.S. plants, the partnership leverages established supply chains and infrastructure, enabling rapid scaling without the need for new manufacturing facilities. The Joule Hive system addresses a critical challenge in decarbonizing heavy industry: generating high-temperature heat without fossil fuels. Using solid-state components, the system stores and releases extreme heat electrically, offering a cleaner alternative to burning