What happened
Exowatt introduced a modular P3 solar-thermal system, concentrating solar energy via lenses and storing it in a thermal battery for 24-hour, on-demand electricity generation. This technology, currently producing power at just under $0.04 per kWh, aims for a long-term cost of $0.01 per kWh. The company plans to scale production to 1 million units annually, utilising US-sourced materials and domestic manufacturing to mitigate supply chain risks, addressing a demand backlog exceeding 90 GWh from data centres.
Why it matters
The introduction of a new, potentially ultra-low-cost energy source for data centres creates a procurement and operational planning constraint. While promising significant cost reductions and supply chain resilience through US-sourced materials, the long-term $0.01 per kWh target remains aspirational. This raises due diligence requirements for procurement and operations teams to evaluate the maturity and scalability of this technology against current energy contracts and infrastructure dependencies, particularly given the substantial demand backlog.
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