Energy storage system and alumina calcination applications

A method of calcination, including:

• storing thermal energy derived from a variable renewable energy source having intermittent availability by a thermal energy storage (TES) system, by heating a storage medium using electricity from the variable renewable energy source, and delivering useful heat in the form of a heated fluid;
• in a calciner, receiving and heating a material stream with the heated fluid delivered by the TES system, so as to calcine the material stream, and generate a calcined product;
• and
• receiving carbon dioxide gas and an output heated fluid from a cooling cyclone that cools the calcined product generated by the calciner, and transferring the heat to a fluid stream that is provided as an input to the TES system.

A method of calcination, including:

• storing thermal energy derived from a variable renewable energy source having intermittent availability by a thermal energy storage (TES) system, by heating a storage medium using electricity from the variable renewable energy source, and delivering useful heat in the form of a heated fluid;
• in a calciner, receiving and heating a material stream with the heated fluid delivered by the TES system, so as to calcine the material stream, and generate a calcined product;
• and
• using an electric booster positioned between the TES system and the calciner and configured to raise a temperature of the fluid output by the TES system to a higher temperature.