PRATT ENERGY + ANTORA
LOCAL ENERGY. LASTING OPPORTUNITY.
A thermal energy storage and steam project that puts Kansas-produced electricity to work at Pratt Energy—supporting our operations, our farmers, and our community.
5.8 GWh
Planned Thermal Energy Storage
24/7
Steam Supply For Ethanol Production
100+
Local Construction & Operations Jobs
AN INVESTMENT IN PRATT ENERGY’S FUTURE
Reliable energy for the work we do every day.
Pratt Energy has partnered with Antora to bring affordable, around-the-clock steam to our biorefinery. Planned for land directly north of our existing facility, the project will store low-cost electricity as heat and deliver that energy when our operations need it.
This long-term energy partnership will help keep our products competitive and strengthen demand for regionally grown corn and sorghum. It also supports our path toward producing zero-carbon-intensity ethanol.
HOW IT WORKS
Electricity in. Steam out.
Think of a thermos, not a furnace. Antora’s system stores heat in insulated solid carbon blocks, then delivers it as steam to the ethanol plant.
STEP 1
USE LOW-COST POWER
At some hours, Kansas produces more electricity than the grid can use. Antora buys this low-cost power to charge the system.
STEP 2
STORE IT AS HEAT
Electricity heats solid carbon blocks inside insulated steel containers. Nothing is burned to store the heat.
STEP 3
DELIVER STEADY STEAM
The stored heat supplies steam around the clock, helping Pratt Energy turn Kansas-grown grain into transportation fuel.
INVESTING CLOSE TO HOME
More Opportunity For Pratt County
The partnership extends beyond energy. Local hiring, hands-on training, scholarships, and community grants will help more of the project’s benefits stay here.
LOCAL EMPLOYMENT
JOBS WITH A FUTURE
The project is expected to create and support nearly 100 construction jobs and 12 full-time operations jobs. Antora is prioritizing local candidates for permanent roles.
EDUCATION & TRAINING
A HEAD START FOR STUDENTS
A paid internship program with Pratt Community College is already underway. Scholarships through the South Central Community Foundation will support up to 12 Pratt students over three years in energy, engineering, and the skilled trades.
COMMUNITY INVESTMENT
LOCAL VOICES, LOCAL IMPACT
Beginning in 2027, the Pratt Community Impact Fund will provide grants for projects serving Pratt County. The South Central Community Foundation will administer the fund, with decisions made by Pratt County community members.
“Reliable energy is the foundation of everything we do, and this project lays that foundation for decades to come.”
PROVEN TECHNOLOGY
Building on Experience
Antora has already commissioned a 5 GWh thermal energy storage system in Big Stone City, South Dakota. The planned Pratt project builds on that experience with the same factory-built technology.
Two Pratt Community College students worked at the South Dakota project during summer 2026, gaining hands-on experience with the technology now coming to their hometown.
COMMUNITY QUESTIONS
Let's talk about the details
Get to know the planned facility, how it operates, and what it means for our neighbors.
What is being built, and where?
Antora will install a thermal energy storage system on the land directly north of the existing Pratt Energy plant. It stores energy as heat and delivers steam to the ethanol plant 24 hours a day. That steady, affordable steam helps Pratt Energy stay competitive.
Will this increase local electricity bills?
No. Antora is paying 100% of the cost of the project’s electrical infrastructure, and will make payments to the local cooperative on top of that. Antora has partnered with Ninnescah Rural Electric Coop and KEPCo to ensure that this project maintains local reliability, fully pays for all incurred costs, and does not pass on costs to local homes and businesses.
Is it safe?
Yes. Energy is stored as heat in solid carbon, a stable, non-toxic material that industry has used for centuries. It’s used as fireproofing in many industrial applications. These are not lithium-ion batteries, and there’s no risk of thermal runaway. The risks of this facility are comparable to many industrial facilities. Well trained professionals will be operating and maintaining the facilities and working closely with the local Fire Department and Local Emergency Planning Committee.
What is it made of?
Antora’s systems store energy as heat in solid carbon blocks, much like the graphite in a pencil, surrounded by carbon insulation and a steel shell. These are common, inert, and non-toxic materials.
All modules are factory-built and tested before they arrive at Pratt. Antora’s San Jose, California factory ranks among the largest battery factories in the country.
Is this a data center?
No. There is no data center and no computing equipment on this site. You may have read that Antora’s technology can serve data centers elsewhere in the country. That is true, but it is not what we are building in Pratt. What’s being built here is a steam plant for the ethanol producer that has been part of this community for years.
What about water & noise?
The project is expected to use little additional water beyond the biorefinery’s existing operations and operate without increasing noise levels for neighboring properties.
OUR DOOR IS OPEN
We Welcome Your Questions
To ask about the Pratt Energy Storage & Steam Project, call or leave a message on the project line at (620) 508-2221
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