36-MW Battery to Stabilize 153-MW Wind Farm

A 36-MW storage system will soon be the world’s largest power-storage device linked to a wind farm. The $44 million battery and controls will go into operation Q3-2012, says North Carolina-based Duke Energy Corp. Xtreme Power manufactures dry-cell batteries for use with the variable delivery from wind farms and solar projects.

The system will store power generated when demand is low and return it to the grid when demand is greatest. This will make the 153-MW Notrees wind farm in West Texas a more reliable source of energy, according to president of Duke Energy Renewables Greg Wolf. He added that storage will help later company wind projects and solar projects, interact with the grid, and manage potential negatives from variable wind or a peak-solar resource.

The Notrees project will be the largest storage system in use with a wind project, although more are in the pipeline. “We have a few projects this size awaiting announcement later this year or and next,” says Xtreme Power president Carlos Coe. “These are related to either renewable integration on a large-scale or renewable integration under challenging transmission and distribution circumstances.”

WPE

Li-ion battery stores 6.2 kWh and more

A proprietary lithium-ion battery pack built around a nickel-manganese-cobalt-based Dow Kokam cell, has four times the power and energy storage of lead-acid batteries in half the volume and a quarter of the weight. Each of these battery packs, from Corvus Energy, delivers at least 22% more power and energy density than the most powerful lithium-ion phosphate batteries used in electric vehicles and consumer products.

The company says its 6.2-kWh battery modules can be customized for higher power or higher energy, depending on application. The battery is intended to optimize or replace diesel power in heavy industrial machinery, such as tug boats that run at idle most the time. Dow Kokam cells make such applications possible because of their high-charge-discharge rates, high energy-capacity storage, and a consistent discharge rate for long periods.

Corvus says it invested more than $5 million to create a safe, modular, fully enclosed battery pack durable enough to withstand harsh ocean and port environments, last 20 years or more, and work well from -4 to 140°F.

Each battery can rapidly charge at 2°C, as well as discharge at 10°C, meaning each module can fully charge its 6.2-kWh capacity in a half hour and release its full 6.2-kWh capacity in six minutes. Its peak discharge current is 1,000 amps and will run continuously at 500 amps — all without damage to the battery, says Corvus.

The company says its batteries are the only ones that can provide tremendous continuous amp rates, as well as power the energy density required to replace diesel power in heavy industrial machinery.

Corvus Energy

www.corvus-energy.com

Power storage company appoints new CEO

The Silicon Valley is home to the electrical storage company Deeya Energy, a manufacturer of the L-Cell battery. It’s based on a NASA development in the early 70s as a potential energy storage method for long-term space flights.

Deeya is experienced in industrial power, energy storage, telecommunications, semiconductors, and chemical industries, and has recently appointed a new CEO.

“The ability to store energy is important to enabling the next generation of energy technology,” Truman says.  “Cost-effective storage solutions for solar, wind, and grid power will fuel the next stages of renewable energy adoption and bring about even greater adoption of green energy.”

After helping found Fremont-based solar panel manufacturer Solyndra, and serving as its senior vice president, Dr. J. Kelly Truman is ready to take on his new position. And with experience in marketing, sales, business development, customer service, government affairs, intellectual property, and corporate communications, he brings a lot to the company.

Deeya Energy www.deeyaenergy.com

Lithium battery could store wind generated power

Toshiba International Corp. says it has established a U.S.-based sales and support for its recent Super Charge Ion Battery, SCiB. This nano-based lithium technology is noteworthy for a rapid-charging capability of 90% in less than 5 min., according to the company, a life of more than 10 years even at a rapid charge rates, and excellent safety performance. The SCiB product line will be supported out of the Toshiba’s headquarters in Houston, Texas. The company says the SCiB design has performance advantages that make it ideal for many tough energy storage challenges. For instance, it is:

• Inherently safe. The advanced lithium chemistry based on nano-technology prevents thermal runaway even under extreme physical duress.

• Fast charge rates. It is capable of a full recharge in < 10 min., 90% in < 5 min.

• Superior life. There is minimal capacity loss even after 6,000 rapid charge-discharge cycles.

• Greater usable capacity. Up to 85% of its usable capacity comes without compromising cycle life.

• High output performance. Discharge rates are equivalent to those of ultra-capacitors.

• Superb low-temperature performance. It excels at temperatures down to -30°C

Battery packs of SCiB cells will be supplied from the company’s production line in Nagano, Japan. Initial market development activities in the US will focus on smart grid and grid storage, wind and solar power, automotive, and others. Additional packs are under development. The SCiB team will focus on battery-pack design, prototyping, assembly, technical support, service, and business development.