Thestorage
Founded 2023 · 13 employees on LinkedIn · 4 known investors
TheStorage builds sand-based thermal energy storage that converts renewable electricity into high-temperature heat and releases it as constant heat or steam to power industrial processes. The system targets industrial customers seeking to decarbonize heat processes and reduce energy costs, with a pilot plant operating at a brewery in Nokia, Finland.
Also known as Buffer Solutions Oy · TheStorage
Investors · 4
Also in the syndicate · 2
Company profile
researched Aug 2026TheStorage (operating under the corporate name Buffer Solutions Oy) is a Tampere, Finland-based cleantech company developing high-temperature "sand-in-motion" thermal energy storage for industrial heat processes. The system uses two insulated silos, a patented electric heater and a proprietary heat exchanger: ordinary sand is heated to temperatures up to 1000°C using renewable electricity or grid power bought during low-price hours, and stored stationary in a silo containing no piping or heat-transfer components. When heat is required, the sand is set in motion and flows through the heat exchanger, transferring heat to a working medium; cooled sand is collected in a second silo and returned to the heater.
The company states the moving-sand flow transfers heat about ten times more effectively than static storage alternatives, and that the system permits simultaneous charging and discharging while providing full heat power at all times. Outputs include steam and superheated steam, thermal oil, hot air and pressurised hot water, with quoted application ranges of steam up to 550°C, hot oil up to 350°C, hot water 50–200°C and hot air up to 800°C. Systems are configurable with chargers and dischargers of 1–20 MW and storage capacity of 20–500 MWh, and are pre-tested and partly pre-built to limit site disruption.
Targeted end-markets include food and beverage, wood and panel, paper, chemicals, and plastics and petrochemicals. The company positions the technology as a means of cutting industrial energy costs by up to 70 percent and emissions by up to 90 percent versus fossil-based heat production, while also enabling participation in electricity reserve/grid balancing markets for additional revenue.
Founding story
The company was founded in 2023 in Tampere, Finland, by a group of professionals with backgrounds in boiler technology, combustion systems, steam systems and industrial energy production, who moved from perfecting combustion systems toward clean, stored industrial heat as energy costs rose and climate requirements tightened. Timo Siukkola is CEO and co-founder.
Business model
TheStorage sells and deploys customised industrial thermal energy storage systems, with the customer configuring charging power, discharging power and storage capacity to match their process and energy profile. The value proposition is framed around energy cost reduction relative to oil, gas and direct electricity, emissions reduction to meet regulatory and corporate sustainability requirements, and additional revenue from grid balancing/reserve market participation.
Sale of customised industrial thermal energy storage systems configured by charge/discharge power and storage capacity; customer economics are based on lower energy costs versus fossil fuels and direct electricity plus potential income from reserve and grid balancing market participation.
Traction
An industrial-scale pilot plant was built in Pirkanmaa, Finland and commissioned for industrial testing at Nokian Panimo, described as Finland's second largest craft brewery, in February 2026, where it produces steam for the brewery's production processes. The company raised €1 million in October 2024 and a €3.6 million seed round announced in April 2026, and stated a goal of doubling its team by the end of 2026.
Latest developments
In April 2026 TheStorage announced a €3.6 million seed round led by Voima Ventures with participation from Superhero Capital, 2C Ventures and new investor Momentum Partners, to accelerate commercialisation, expand the team and develop the technology further; the CEO stated a goal of doubling headcount by the end of 2026. The pilot at Nokian Panimo was commissioned for industrial testing in February 2026, and the company was recruiting for roles including Lead Electrical Engineer in Tampere.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history, risks & controversies
Market position
TheStorage competes in the emerging electrified thermal energy storage market for industrial heat, which it describes as roughly one fifth of global energy consumption with about 80 percent still produced from fossil fuels. The company claims a heat transfer advantage of up to ten times over static storage alternatives. Its head of business development previously built the European market for California-based Rondo Energy, another thermal energy storage supplier.
The company differentiates on moving rather than static sand: storage silos contain no piping or heat-transfer components, and sand is set in motion only during discharge through a proprietary heat exchanger, which the company says delivers up to ten times better heat transfer than static alternatives. Other stated differentiators are simultaneous charging and discharging, full heat power availability at all times, use of ordinary sand and proven off-the-shelf components for easy access and low maintenance downtime, pre-tested and pre-built delivery, and modular scalability.
Technology
High-temperature sand-based thermal energy storage in which sand is heated to up to 1000°C in a patented electric heater and stored in insulated silos without internal piping. Heat is discharged by setting the sand in motion through a proprietary heat exchanger that transfers energy to steam, superheated steam, thermal oil, hot air or pressurised hot water; cooled sand is collected in a separate silo and recirculated. The company states dynamic sand flow is ten times more effective in heat transfer than static storage solutions, and that the architecture allows simultaneous charging and discharging, easy component access for maintenance, and scaling with configurable 1–20 MW charge/discharge and 20–500 MWh storage.
Go-to-market
Direct sales to industrial heat users, supported by an online savings calculator that compares facility energy costs against oil, gas and direct electricity; reference marketing around the brewery pilot; press releases, LinkedIn content and thought-leadership articles on industrial heat electrification; and hiring of commercial leadership to open markets beyond Finland.
Industrial companies that use process heat and steam, particularly small and mid-sized steam users, across food and beverage, wood and panel, paper, chemistry, and plastics and petrochemical sectors.
Geography
Headquartered in Tampere, Finland, with its pilot installation in Pirkanmaa at the Nokian Panimo brewery in Nokia, Finland, and open roles based in Tampere. The company describes global scaling and export ambitions for its technology.
History
Founded in 2023, TheStorage completed construction of its first sand-in-motion thermal energy storage pilot plant in Pirkanmaa, Finland, and secured €1 million from 2C Ventures and Superhero Capital in October 2024. The pilot was commissioned for industrial testing at the Nokian Panimo brewery in Nokia, Finland in February 2026. In April 2026 the company announced a €3.6 million seed round led by Voima Ventures with Superhero Capital, 2C Ventures and Momentum Partners, intended to fund commercialisation, team expansion and further technology development. Ville Pentti, previously four years at Rondo Energy opening its European market, joined as Head of Business Development.
Risks & controversies
Performance and savings figures, including up to 70 percent lower energy costs and up to 90 percent lower emissions, are company-stated and based on an exemplary industrial process using 2024 Finnish electricity spot prices excluding power fees. The company is at pilot stage with a single installation, and its economics depend on volatile electricity spot prices, electricity taxes and transfer fees, and on EU emissions pricing developments such as the phased introduction of ETS2.
Compiled by commissioned research from 8 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Timeline · 5
launches, deals, and filingsSeed round led by Voima Ventures with participation from existing investors Superhero Capital and 2C Ventures and new investor Momentum Partners, to accelerate commercialisation, expand the team and further develop the technology.
TheStorage's pilot facility was commissioned for industrial testing at Nokian Panimo, described as Finland's second largest craft brewery, where it produces steam for the brewery's production processes.
Ville Pentti, previously four years at California-based Rondo Energy opening its European thermal energy storage market and 15 years in the Nordic energy sector, joined TheStorage as Head of Business Development.
The company completed construction of its first sand-in-motion thermal energy storage pilot plant in Pirkanmaa, Finland.
TheStorage announced €1 million in funding from 2C Ventures and Superhero Capital to address decarbonisation of industrial heat.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
▸Research sources · 8
primary sources listed
- Thestoragethestorage.fi · web
8 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Thestorage do?
- Finnish cleantech company storing renewable electricity as heat in moving sand to supply industrial process heat and steam.
- Who are Thestorage's investors?
- Thestorage's investors include Superhero Capital, Voima Ventures.