NEStore: a rising solution for cheap and sustainable energy storage

As more households install solar panels, energy storage is necessary to maximize the benefits of producing green energy independently. In recent years, giant leaps have been made in developing new battery technologies, and lithium-ion battery costs have now been at their lowest. Yet, batteries made with critical raw materials are not the only option. Energy storage solutions can be done with widely available materials such as hot water. Newton Energy Solution's NEStore perfectly fits into this category.

Like a conventional water boiler, NEStore converts electricity – from solar panels or the grid – into heat, storing it without heat losses in water for weeks. When discharged, the system delivers hot water. Providing everyone with cheap and green energy is the company’s mission. Their standard 20 kWh unit takes less than 2 hours to install and costs €5,000, excluding taxes.  Home use is the primary application envisioned by the TNO spinoff for NEStore, but any place where hot water is needed could enjoy its benefits. Hotels, hospitals, and sports centers could also be potential use cases. 

Energy storage is done as brewing an espresso

In a previous interview with Innovation Origins, Newton Energy Solutions's CEO, Pavol Bodis, used a practical metaphor to describe the functioning of the NEStore. “It’s a flow-through heater, comparable to an espresso coffee machine. During the charging phase, water enters the system and gets warmed up, and when discharging, the user draws this hot water.”

From room temperature, the system warms the water up to 110 °The system warms the water up to 110 °C from room temperature, well over the threshold reached by conventional boilers. Besides, it has six to eight times the capacity of a regular boiler. A thinner insulation system plays its part, but most importantly, the higher water temperature allows for stashing more energy within the same volume. 

Although shying away from defining NEStore as a battery–meaning an electrical battery– the device still stores thermal energy for weeks. Whereas conventional boilers rapidly lose heat—up to 30% in 24 hours–Newton Energy System’s tech can maintain it for weeks. This is possible thanks to the vacuum insulation system, which minimizes heat losses. 

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Accommodating energy storage flexibility

Coupled with the device is a smart control system, which allows getting the best out of the system. For instance, the NEStore charges when the household's rooftop solar panels are harvesting sunlight, or when more green electricity is available on the grid. In addition, once set, the system recognizes usage patterns, providing the needed flexibility to everyone.

Sustainable by design

NEStore stands out for its environmentally conscious design. The system is constructed entirely from recyclable stainless steel, avoiding the use of rare minerals, F-gases, or potentially hazardous materials. With a lifespan of 30 years and no degradation in storage capacity, NEStore represents a sustainable investment in every sense. Installation is straightforward, takes less than two hours, and comes with a 7-year warranty on insulation.

Recognition and future prospects

The innovation behind NEStore has not gone unnoticed. The system recently claimed first place in the KVK Innovation Top 100, 2024, in the Energy Transition category. As jury member Guido Dalessi noted, "The loss of 1% per day is impressive for a system with a relative volume system." This recognition underscores NEStore's potential to revolutionize energy storage while contributing to grid stability and the broader transition to renewable energy.

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