Thermal batteries could squeeze molten-salt technology out of the energy storage market, according to start-up EnergyNest. Rather than targeting the space that batteries currently occupy in storing electricity, the company’s technology will primarily aim to tackle decarbonization through improving the management of process heat within energy-intensive industries. Two weeks ago, EnergyNest first popped up on Rethink Energy’s radar, after signing a deal with Austrian brickmaker Seftenbacher to develop a ‘Thermal Battery’ to replace the use of natural gas within the one of the company’s production facilities. With a burgeoning trend of heavy industry companies making ‘net-zero’ promises – we spoke to EnergyNest CEO Christian Thiel to see where thermal batteries fit within this decarbonization. Described as a Thermal Battery, EnergyNest’s…