# Modular thermal storage systems Annandale Introduced its Exergy3-Cochran Thermal Storage System By Debra John | Written with AI assistance | Published 2026-04-23 | Eco Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/thermal-storage-system References: [thespiritsbusiness](https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2026/04/annandale-makes-major-breakthrough-in-net-zero-whisky/)  [Annandale Distillery](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/callum-529) introduced a [modular thermal storage system](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/modular-power-solution) that will heat its stills using surplus wind power, developed with Exergy3 and Cochran and featuring [ultra-high-temperature heat storage](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/stea). The setup converts renewable electricity into stored thermal energy, then releases hot air at up to 1,200°C to feed a Cochran boiler and generate steam for distillation. The system installed at Annandale uses three modules totaling 30 MWh of capacity, with reported round-trip efficiency up to 96% and under 1% thermal loss over 24 hours. Each module is compact (about the size of a garage), supplies hot air at roughly 530°C to a 3 MW boiler that produces steam at 10 bar, and was positioned as quick to commission. For consumers and producers, the rollout removes fossil fuels from a heat-intensive stage of whisky making, lowering carbon footprint and operating costs while using otherwise wasted renewable electricity; it also demonstrates a scalable model for other food and heat-reliant industries seeking feasible decarbonization. Image Credit: Annandale Distillery ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.6/10 - Popularity: 46% | Activity: 50% | Freshness: 72% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Eco](https://www.trendhunter.com/eco) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Modular Thermal Storage:** Small, container-sized thermal modules enable scalable, site-specific replacement of fossil-fuel burners with stored renewable heat, creating opportunities for rapid deployment across varied industrial footprints. - **Ultra-high-temperature Storage:** Materials and systems capable of reliably storing and releasing heat above 1,000°C open pathways for electrified processes that require extreme temperatures, reducing dependence on combustion-based heat sources. - **Grid-integrated Heat Balancing:** Using excess renewable electricity to charge thermal inventories provides a buffer that aligns variable generation with continuous thermal demand, presenting a new vector for utility and load-management business models. ### Where This Applies - **Distilling and Brewing:** The sector's intensive steam and heat requirements can be decarbonized through on-site high-temperature storage, enabling beverage producers to lower emissions and energy cost exposure. - **Industrial Heat and Steam Generation:** Large-scale manufacturers that rely on consistent high-grade heat stand to benefit from replacing fossil boilers with electrically charged thermal stores that offer high round-trip efficiency and low standby losses. - **Food Processing and Drying:** Processes such as pasteurization, drying, and sterilization could leverage modular thermal reserves to convert intermittent renewable input into reliable process heat, affecting supply chain carbon intensity and operational scheduling. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Modular Shelving Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cozey.md) - [Home Energy Storage Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/home-energy-storage-system.md) - [Home Energy Storage Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/home-energy-storage-systems.md) - [Heat Recovery Pasteurizer Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/integrated-heat-pump-system.md) - [Modular Thermal Management Solutions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/thermal-management.md) - [Optimized Cooling Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cooling-systems.md) - [Stainless Steel Hydraulic Circuits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hydraulic-circuit.md) - [Semi-Fixed Energy Storage Units](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sunshare-technology.md) - [Expanded Cooling Capacities](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/star-refrigeration.md)