TURNING HEAT INTO POWER: HOW ADVANCED THERMOVOLTAIC SYSTEMS (ATS) IS REIMAGINING INDUSTRIAL ENERGY
At Holcim MAQER Ventures, we seek out bold technologies that push the boundaries of sustainable construction and will help us reinvent how the world builds. That’s why we work with Advanced Thermovoltaic Systems (ATS), a company transforming how the world thinks about waste heat. The scale of this challenge is significant: on average, 50% of heat is lost during cement production, resulting in 0.2 tonnes of CO2 emissions per tonne of cement produced. With the world producing 4 billion tonnes of cement annually, the potential for impact is immense.
Recognized as a 2024 Earthshot Prize Winner in the “Fix the Climate” category, ATS is the world’s first and only solid-state solution that converts industrial waste heat into clean, sustainable electricity without the need for turbines or moving parts. ATS offers a 99% circular, scalable, cost-effective, and revenue-positive technology that helps industries reduce carbon emissions and improve energy efficiency. With the potential to eliminate millions of tons of CO2, ATS is radically redefining the future of energy.
In early 2024, ATS successfully deployed its solid-state waste heat-to-electricity technology at Holcim’s Alpena cement plant in Michigan. Unlike lab-scale pilots, this was full industrial integration and the results have the potential to be game-changing.
The system achieved 13.9% thermal efficiency on a 240°C waste heat stream, independently validated by the U.S. Department of Energy. That’s nearly eight times the efficiency of existing solid-state solutions and well above the 10% commercial viability threshold for this kind of technology. Even more promising, with continued optimization, efficiency is on track to exceed 25%.
Beyond performance, ATS’ system is designed for real-world durability. With no moving parts, it requires minimal maintenance, operates in harsh industrial environments, and can be scaled quickly through automated manufacturing lines.
ATS’ technology is a practical, scalable tool to decarbonize heavy industry while reducing energy costs and unlocking new sources of clean power. This industrial solution turns existing processes into energy assets. This collaboration reflects Holcim’s commitment to bold partnerships that accelerate progress toward net zero.
