Energy Storage with Staying Power
Sept. 15, 2015
U.S. Department of Energy
None
Energy storage from batteries promises to maximize distributed and renewable energy's usefulness on and off the electric grid. For example solar energy collected in the afternoon may not be available in the evening, when consumers most need it, unless batteries store the excess energy. There is a tradeoff in batteries between energy and power density versus longevity and low cost.
With its $10.4-million cooperative research agreement under the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Smart Grid Demonstration Program, which provided $5.2 million, Aquion demonstrated a pilot ambient-temperature, Aqueous Hybrid Ion (AHI) battery system. The system's stability, longevity, and energy efficiency makes it an option for supporting distributed generation, reducing peak load on the grid, and helping to regulate the voltage and frequency on transmission and distribution lines. The stable and and safe battery chemistry makes it an option for off-grid, substation and community energy storage applications.