MIT-WPU develops solar thermal battery for hot water

26 Jun 2026 CW Team

Developed by Dr Anita Nene and Dr Rohit Ghadge from MIT-WPU’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, the system combines a Scheffler solar concentrator with a thermal storage capsule containing paraffin wax. The phase change material stores and releases heat, allowing thermal energy to be used beyond daylight hours.

Unlike conventional electrochemical batteries, the system stores energy directly as heat. It includes a detachable PCM tube, a water-jacket heat transfer mechanism and polyurethane insulation to improve heat retention and energy utilisation.

During laboratory-scale testing, the technology achieved complete thermal charging in about 18 minutes and complete discharge in around 32 minutes. The prototype demonstrated 55 per cent thermal efficiency and continued supplying hot water after solar input was removed.

The system can store around 1.5 to 2 kWh of thermal energy and maintain water temperatures between 50 degrees Celsius and 60 degrees Celsius for up to 12 to 14 hours after charging. The researchers said the technology could help lower carbon emissions by around 2.5 to 3 tonnes annually.

The technology is currently at Technology Readiness Level 7 and is being prepared for pilot deployments in real-world environments. Potential applications include residential water heating, hotels, hospitals, hostels, educational institutions, industrial process heating, community kitchens, agricultural operations and off-grid rural communities.

An Indian patent application titled “Solar Energy Storage Capsule Using Phase Change Material” has been filed under Application No. 202521118546. The next phase will focus on field trials, performance optimisation and scale-up for commercial deployment."

Researchers at MIT World Peace University have developed a solar thermal energy storage system that enables hot water availability after sunset. The system stores solar heat in a phase change material-based thermal battery, helping reduce dependence on electricity and conventional fuels for water heating.Developed by Dr Anita Nene and Dr Rohit Ghadge from MIT-WPU’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, the system combines a Scheffler solar concentrator with a thermal storage capsule containing paraffin wax. The phase change material stores and releases heat, allowing thermal energy to be used beyond daylight hours.Unlike conventional electrochemical batteries, the system stores energy directly as heat. It includes a detachable PCM tube, a water-jacket heat transfer mechanism and polyurethane insulation to improve heat retention and energy utilisation.During laboratory-scale testing, the technology achieved complete thermal charging in about 18 minutes and complete discharge in around 32 minutes. The prototype demonstrated 55 per cent thermal efficiency and continued supplying hot water after solar input was removed.The system can store around 1.5 to 2 kWh of thermal energy and maintain water temperatures between 50 degrees Celsius and 60 degrees Celsius for up to 12 to 14 hours after charging. The researchers said the technology could help lower carbon emissions by around 2.5 to 3 tonnes annually.The technology is currently at Technology Readiness Level 7 and is being prepared for pilot deployments in real-world environments. Potential applications include residential water heating, hotels, hospitals, hostels, educational institutions, industrial process heating, community kitchens, agricultural operations and off-grid rural communities.An Indian patent application titled “Solar Energy Storage Capsule Using Phase Change Material” has been filed under Application No. 202521118546. The next phase will focus on field trials, performance optimisation and scale-up for commercial deployment.

Infrastructure Urban

27 Jul 2026

Meghalaya Launches Rs 1.75 Billion Mission for Lakadong Turmeric

Meghalaya has launched Mission Golden Spice: Integrated Lakadong Turmeric Value Chain Enhancement Project, marking a major step towards establishing the state as a global centre for premium, organic and GI-tagged Lakadong turmeric.Launched at Sanchar Bhavan in New Delhi, the initiative aims to transform Meghalaya’s agricultural sector by moving farmers from traditional commodity production towards a value-driven, entrepreneurship-led ecosystem. Through a Community-Public-Private Partnership (CPPP) model, the project focuses on strengthening processing capabilities, improving market access an..

Infrastructure Urban

27 Jul 2026

Staunch Electronics Expands EMS Capabilities Amid India’s Manufacturing Growth

Staunch Electronics India, an Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS), Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), and Original Design Manufacturer (ODM), is strengthening its presence in India’s growing electronics manufacturing ecosystem through its focus on manufacturing excellence, innovation, and customer-centric partnerships.Founded in 2014, Staunch Electronics India has built over a decade of manufacturing expertise, providing electronic manufacturing solutions across multiple industries. The company offers integrated EMS, OEM, and ODM services covering product engineering, design support..

Infrastructure Energy

27 Jul 2026

Dreamfly plans 200 MWh drone battery facility

Dreamfly Innovations has announced plans to establish a 40,000 sq ft aviation battery manufacturing facility in North Bengaluru with an initial annual capacity of 100 MWh, scalable to 200 MWh.The facility will produce advanced batteries for defence, surveillance, inspection, agricultural spraying, logistics and emerging air mobility platforms such as air taxis. The company said the project would strengthen India’s domestic drone supply chain by expanding local production of a critical unmanned aerial system component.Dreamfly currently reports indigenous content of 77% in its products. The c..