Antora Energy, a US energy storage startup, has received a $550 million Series C funding round for its long duration energy storage system using "hot blocks" thermal batteries. The Department of Energy's DAYS program supports technologies lasting at least 10 hours, with Antora's solid carbon blocks seen as a promising solution for storing excess wind and solar power. The company's focus on large-scale projects and expanding production, including a project in South Dakota, aims to accelerate the deployment of energy storage projects across the country. With a manufacturing campus in California, Antora Energy is creating new job opportunities and highlighting the importance of state and local officials in supporting renewable energy goals.
https://cleantechnica.com/2026/07/30/energy-storage-factory-made-carbon-blocks-us-startup-antora/