James Macnaghten

CEO

Portsmouth, United Kingdom35 yrs 4 mos experience

Most Likely To SwitchHighly Stable

Key Highlights

Over 30 years of business experience.
Inventor on 20+ thermal energy storage patents.
Passionate advocate for sustainable energy solutions.

Stackforce AI infers this person is a leader in energy technology with a focus on sustainable solutions.

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Skills

Core Skills

Thermal Energy StorageDecarbonisationEnergy Storage Technology

Other Skills

thermodynamicspower cyclesrenewable energyengineering designPumped Heat Electricity Storagethermodynamic storage systemsenergy efficiencysystem design

About

I am an experienced CEO, entrepreneur, and Cambridge University trained engineer with 15 years’ experience in energy research and over 30 years’ experience in business. I try and write all of my posts and comments without the use of AI. While not against AI I worry it reduces the ability for critical thinking. I also write (as Joan Didion famously said) entirely to find out what I am thinking. As an engineer I have developed a very specific expertise around thermal energy storage, thermodynamics and power cycles. I have been either co-inventor or sole inventor on a wide number of thermal energy storage patents and have 20+ patent families to my name. I am passionate about trying to move our society to a more sustainable footing. With the recent huge reduction in the cost of electricity from solar PV I believe that renewables are now the cheapest form of energy anywhere in the world where it is sunny. For industry this means there is a rapid route to decarbonise as much as 70% of their overall energy demand at a price that is below current grid alternatives. I welcome connection requests if you are interested in energy and/or engineering - don’t worry if you are a student - we all have to start somewhere. I will refuse if your connection request is written by AI or I think you want to sell me executive coaching, strategic advice, buy my business, provide digital marketing or SEO etc …

Experience

35 yrs 4 mos

Total Experience

23 yrs 8 mos

Average Tenure

35 yrs 4 mos

Current Experience

Caldera heat batteries ltd

CEO

Oct 2017 – Present · 8 yrs 7 mos · Portsmouth, UK

Caldera’s pioneering thermal storage boiler is enabling many companies to make significant steps forward in their decarbonisation plans.
Caldera’s system is ideal for providing process heat in the temperature range of 100°C up to 210°C. By combining their Storage Boiler with Solar PV, Caldera transforms renewable electricity into affordable, on-demand zero-carbon heat, effectively displacing reliance on fossil fuels.
At its heart is a long-lasting core of volcanic rock and recycled aluminium which stores high temperature heat and can charge or discharge rapidly. This cutting-edge material not only meets stringent environmental standards, but also offers industry a reliable, cost-effective alternative to traditional heating methods.

thermal energy storagethermodynamicspower cyclesdecarbonisationrenewable energy

Isentropic

CEO

Jan 2004 – Feb 2016 · 12 yrs 1 mo · United Kingdom

Isentropic Ltd was established to develop Pumped Heat Electricity Storage (PHES), a standalone energy storage system based on a novel thermodynamic storage system. The electricity is converted to high grade heat at 500 degrees Celsius and cold at minus 160 degrees Celsius. The heat and cold is stored and can be converted back back to electricity with an efficiency of 50-60%.
The Company was the global leader in this type of energy storage technology and made many significant developments to commercialising this technology over a 12 year period. In total the Company raised over £15m to develop the technology and build a demonstration unit.

Pumped Heat Electricity Storagethermodynamic storage systemsenergy storage technology