MicroPower has begun commercial pilot deployment of its PowerBlock thermoelectric technology at Gerdau's Selkirk, Manitoba steel production facility. The installation represents the first full-scale industrial test of MicroPower's PbTe/TAGS chip platform – together with the high-temperature contact and thermal-interface structures, informed by early ARL collaboration and evolved internally since – in a live steel production environment, marking a critical milestone in the company's transition from development to commercial deployment.
Two installation locations have been selected at the Gerdau Selkirk facility, each representing distinct thermal profiles and operational conditions encountered in integrated steel mill environments. The parallel installations enable MicroPower to validate PowerBlock performance across the range of temperature conditions and waste heat characteristics typical of commercial steel production. Deployment teams are integrating thermoelectric modules into existing facility infrastructure to minimize disruption while ensuring optimal thermal integration.
"This pilot deployment represents validation of our years of research and development," said MicroPower leadership. "We're deploying our PowerBlock technology in one of the world's most demanding industrial environments. Steel mills generate extreme thermal conditions and harsh operating environments. Successfully operating thermoelectric systems at Gerdau demonstrates our technology's durability and commercial viability."
The Gerdau facility was selected based on multiple factors: the company's sophistication and engineering excellence; thermal characteristics suited to thermoelectric recovery; willingness to collaborate on technology validation; and geographic location facilitating technical support and data monitoring. Gerdau Selkirk is a major integrated steel mill producing significant waste heat volumes across multiple process streams – an ideal environment for demonstrating the scalability of MicroPower's approach.
The two-location installation strategy provides valuable data for scaling to larger commercial deployments. Different waste heat streams operate at different temperatures and flow characteristics. By validating PowerBlock performance across distinct thermal conditions, MicroPower generates the technical evidence needed to design optimal configurations for future commercial projects across diverse industrial applications.
The pilot deployment focuses on critical operational metrics: thermal performance under industrial conditions, electrical generation stability, long-term reliability and durability, material compatibility with steel mill environments, and integration with facility infrastructure. Real-time monitoring systems track performance, generating data to inform subsequent scaling and commercialization efforts.
Steel production represents a massive waste heat opportunity. Integrated steel mills generate enormous quantities of thermal energy from blast furnaces, steel converters, rolling mills, and cooling systems. Current thermal management relies on cooling towers and heat exchangers that dissipate energy unused. MicroPower's thermoelectric technology converts this waste heat to electricity, improving facility economics while reducing thermal emissions.
The Gerdau partnership demonstrates industrial-sector confidence in MicroPower's approach. Gerdau is one of the world's largest steelmakers with operations across Latin America, North America, and Asia. The company's willingness to host a commercial pilot deployment validates MicroPower's technology positioning and market opportunity.
The pilot installation includes comprehensive monitoring infrastructure that will generate performance data throughout the testing period. Temperature sensors, power output monitoring, and operational metrics tracking provide continuous visibility into PowerBlock performance. Data will inform engineering refinements and commercialization scaling.
MicroPower expects the pilot to operate continuously for an extended evaluation period, generating performance data and demonstrating long-term reliability and durability. Results from the Gerdau deployment will inform the company's strategy for subsequent commercial partnerships and larger-scale deployments across the global steel industry and other industrial segments.