The New York Power Authority (NYPA), in collaboration with Israel-headquartered Brenmiller Energy, has successfully commissioned an innovative thermal energy storage (TES) system at the State University of New York (SUNY) Purchase campus. The bGen ZERO unit, integrated with an existing combined heat and power (CHP) system, became operational in 2023, marking a significant step in modernizing the campus’s energy infrastructure and providing a scalable blueprint for other institutions facing similar challenges with aging facilities.

This $2.5 million project, partially funded by a $1 million grant from the Israel-U.S. Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Foundation, addresses the critical need for commercial and industrial enterprises to enhance energy efficiency and resilience. The SUNY Purchase Physical Education building, previously reliant on an inefficient district heating loop, now meets nearly 100% of its heating demands and approximately 50% of its electricity needs through the new system. This integration is projected to eliminate close to 550 metric tons of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions annually, while also delivering substantial operational cost savings.

Doron Brenmiller, co-founder and chief business officer for Brenmiller Energy, highlighted the system’s strategic advantages. “The project addresses a common challenge for institutional facilities—aging centralized heating systems that are expensive and inefficient to maintain,” Brenmiller stated. He emphasized that by charging the TES unit during low-demand periods, typically at night, and discharging stored heat during peak times, the system avoids purchasing expensive grid electricity when rates are highest, thereby lowering operational costs and easing stress on the grid, particularly valuable in New York’s dense energy markets.

The bGen ZERO unit captures exhaust heat from the integrated Capstone Turbine Corp. microturbine and stores it in crushed rocks at temperatures up to 600°C (1,200°F). It also utilizes internal resistive heaters to convert electricity into heat, providing on-demand thermal dispatch. This flexibility allows the system to optimize heating costs, especially during periods of high thermal demand, and ensures 24/7 operational reliability. The Brenmiller team noted that the bGen unit “effectively addresses the building’s varied energy demands throughout the day by directly transferring heat from the turbine to the building during peak demand; during low demand, it stores heat coming from the exhaust for later use.”

This installation represents the first U.S. deployment of Brenmiller’s bGen ZERO technology, which has garnered significant industry recognition, including being named one of TIME magazine’s 200 best inventions in 2023 and receiving a Gold designation at the 2025 Edison Awards. The project’s success has also earned it POWER’s 2025 Commercial & Industrial Generation Award. While the project, initially announced in 2017, experienced delays due to COVID-19 and local contracting processes, it has served as a crucial learning curve for Brenmiller’s U.S. operations, particularly through its partnership with RSP Systems, now Rock Energy Storage.

Beyond SUNY Purchase, Brenmiller’s bGen TES technology is proving its versatility in diverse applications globally. Projects include a 390-MW power plant in Italy (Enel’s Santa Barbara), a manufacturing plant in Brazil (Fortlev), and upcoming installations for Tempo Beverages and Wolfson Hospital in Israel, and Partner in Pet Food in Hungary. These deployments consistently demonstrate significant cost savings and GHG emission reductions. For instance, the 32-MWh bGen system for Tempo Beverages, Heineken’s largest producer in Israel, is projected to save $7.5 million over 15 years by replacing heavy fuel oil boilers, while the Wolfson Hospital project is expected to save up to $1.3 million annually and reduce carbon emissions by approximately 3,900 tons per year. Brenmiller Europe, a joint venture, will operate a 30-MWh bGen system for Partner in Pet Food, aiming to cut gas consumption by 25-30% and support a 42% carbon emission reduction by 2030. These ongoing projects underscore the broad applicability and economic viability of thermal energy storage in accelerating the global transition to cleaner, more efficient energy systems.