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ASME Section VIII • 565°C Binary Nitrate Salt • Section 48 ITC Energy Storage Industrial High-Temperature Decarbonization

Commercial Molten Salt Thermal Energy Storage (TES) Sizer

Model industrial and campus two-tank molten salt thermal energy storage (TES) utilizing binary nitrate "Solar Salt" (60% NaNO3 / 40% KNO3) operating between 290°C and 565°C. Charge with cheap off-peak or surplus solar/wind electricity, discharge continuous high-pressure process steam (150–600 psig), achieve 93%–97% round-trip thermal efficiency, and leverage Section 48 standalone energy storage tax credits.

Thermal Storage Capacity & Duration

MWhth Capacity

Target Thermal Energy Capacity (MWhth): 50 MWhth (170 MMBtu)

5 MWhth (Facility) 50 MWhth (Commercial Plant) 250 MWhth (Industrial Hub)

Continuous Discharge Duration: 8.0 Hours (6.25 MWth Output)

Process Steam Delivery Pressure:

Molten Salt Temperatures & Charging

Salt Physics

Hot Salt Tank Temperature ($T_{hot}$): 565°C (1,049°F)

Cold Salt Tank Temperature ($T_{cold}$): 290°C (554°F)

Daily Electric Charging Window: 6 Hours Off-Peak

Tariffs & Storage Tax Credits

Economics

Off-Peak Power ($/kWh):

Displaced Gas ($/MMBtu):

Turnkey CapEx ($/kWhth):

Section 48 Storage ITC:

Two-Tank Molten Salt (565°C) & Steam Generator Flow

● 94% THERMAL ROUND-TRIP

Cold Tank (290°C) → Electric Immersion Heater → Hot Tank (565°C) Hot Salt → Steam Generator Boiler → Process Steam

Nitrate Salt Mass 410 Tonnes Binary Solar Salt

Steam Discharge 18,500 lb/hr 6.25 MWth Output

Heater Charging 8.8 MWe Off-Peak Window

Net Annual OpSav $412,000/yr Payback: 4.0 yrs

Thermal Storage Thermodynamic & Capital Structure Audit ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code • 20-Yr Horizon

Salt Specific Heat Capacity ($C_p$): 1.52 kJ/kg·K (Binary NaNO3/KNO3)

Operating Temperature Differential ($\Delta T$): 275°C (495°F Sensible Lift)

Annual Process Steam Delivered: 54,000,000 lbs steam / year

Displaced Natural Gas in Baseline Boilers (80% eff): 65,000 MMBtu/year ($552,500/yr)

Electric Charging Energy Cost (Off-Peak): -$140,500 / year (52.6 MWh/day)

Turnkey CapEx & Net Section 48 ITC Cost: $2,750,000 Gross → $1,650,000 Net (40% ITC)

Direct Scope 1 Fossil Combustion Reduction: -3,450 Metric Tonnes CO2e/year

20-Year Cumulative Net Present Value (NPV @ 7%): $2,710,000 (IRR: 24.8%)

Section 48 Standalone Thermal Energy Storage (TES) ITC Eligibility

Under IRC § 48(c)(6) amended by the Inflation Reduction Act, thermal energy storage property that receives electrical energy and stores it as heat for subsequent heating or cooling use qualifies for the 30% base Investment Tax Credit without requiring pairing with co-located solar or wind. Projects located in Energy Communities receive an additional +10% bonus credit, and domestic steel content provides another +10%, reducing turnkey capital costs by up to 50%.