SPIC’s Central Research Institute (also referred to as SPIC Science and Technology Research Institute Co., Ltd.) launched the technology in Beijing on Dec. 25, describing it as a “Carnot battery” concept that couples a heat-pump cycle with a heat-engine cycle to convert electricity into stored heat and cold, then back into electricity on demand.

SPIC says the system uses air as the working fluid. During charging, it uses electricity – typically off-peak or curtailed renewables – to “pump” heat to above 560°C while also generating cold down to -60°C. During discharge, the stored thermal gradient drives turbomachinery to produce electricity, and can also support combined heating/cooling/power applications where they are useful.