CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (April 8, 2026) – EnterpriseWorks incubator graduate Cache Energy is drawing national attention after a feature profile in The Wall Street Journal highlighted the company’s cement-based thermal battery technology.
Cache Energy has developed a safe and transportable thermal storage system that stores energy from renewable sources for months at a time. By offering an efficient, affordable path away from fossil fuels, the technology provides a practical means of transitioning to clean energy. The company’s chief executive officer, Arpit Dwivedi, is focused on creating energy storage that enables long-duration electricity storage. “It gave me some time to think about what is the most impactful solution, what is that missing piece, and really developing a solution which could enable access to clean energy for everyone, everywhere,” Dwivedi said.
The article also highlighted the simplicity behind the company’s pellets, dating back to a chemical reaction found in ancient Roman concrete. The reaction effectively transforms cement into a long-duration thermal battery by releasing large amounts of heat when quicklime interacts with water. Although this science has been recognized in the past, what differentiates Cache Energy’s technology is its ability to form cement into small, durable pellets through endless charging cycles.
In recent military applications, the U.S. Army’s Engineer Research and Development Center’s Construction Engineering Research Laboratory partnered with Cache Energy to adapt the company’s Thermochemical Energy Storage for Army use. While the company’s commercial systems typically function between 100 and 1,000 kilowatts, the partnership between ERDC-CERL and Cache Energy supports the specialized design development of a 5-kilowatt reactor.
“We are excited by the opportunity to support the U.S. Army’s mission by delivering low-cost, long-duration energy storage that enhances resilience, operational readiness and energy security,” said Amulya Nimmagadda, director of research and development at Cache Energy. “With multiple installations already underway across diverse applications, we’re excited to scale our technology to provide reliable, cost-effective energy solutions for the Army’s needs.”
The Champaign-based company has also secured funding from Evergreen Climate Innovations and the U.S. Department of Energy, building on earlier recognition, including a DOE Energy Innovation Prize and a pitch competition win at the White House.
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