Grids

International Battery Receives Grant from Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority to Develop a Bulk Energy Storage System

International Battery, a U.S. manufacturer, designer and developer of large-format lithium-ion rechargeable cells, batteries and energy storage systems (ESS), is pleased to announce that it has received an $800,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority (PEDA) to design, manufacture and test an 800 kilowatt-hour bulk energy storage system (BESS), expandable to one megawatt. This grant is part of PEDA’s mission to promote the development and use of Pennsylvania’s clean, indigenous energy resources and to stimulate economic development and job creation for Pennsylvania’s growing energy sector in an environmentally beneficial manner.

Marking International Battery’s largest battery system to date, the completed energy storage system will demonstrate the advantages of using large-format lithium batteries for renewable energy integration and Smart Grid support.

The storage system, which will accommodate International Battery’s large-format lithium batteries and battery management system (BMS), an inverter, as well as a control/communications system, will be housed in a 40-foot mobile container. International Battery will join forces with an inverter company for this ambitious project.

Secretary John Hanger of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection said, “Renewable energy is booming, gaining an ever larger share of our electricity generation mix. To take it to the next level, though, we must improve our ability to store energy in large amounts. International Battery was selected for this grant because of its work to develop that kind of bulk energy storage technology. If we can store the power renewable energy systems create, we can do a great deal to improve our domestic energy security and control the cost of electricity by minimizing demand on the grid.”

“We thank PEDA for this grant enabling us to undertake our largest energy storage project to date,” said Dr. Ake Almgren, president and CEO of International Battery. “It will give us an opportunity to show how by using our large format prismatic battery cells, we can build large lithium-ion storage systems with high energy density and efficiency to provide multiple functions such as time shifting, frequency regulation, solar smoothing and wind ramping.”

The preliminary design work on the 800-kilowatt-hour system (expandable to one megawatt) has begun and is expected to be ready for initial testing by the second quarter of 2011. The company plans to install the BESS unit to a selected site where it will be integrated with on-site renewable energy sources and the grid.

A unique factor in the company’s development of its energy storage systems is its unique aqueous manufacturing process that is inherently green. The battery cells are fabricated using a water-based process instead of the common use of large quantities of organic solvent chemicals.

Headquartered in Allentown, Pa., International Battery is a U.S. manufacturer, designer, and developer of large-format lithium-ion rechargeable cells and batteries for use in a wide range of electric vehicles, industrial, electric utility, smart grid and military applications, employing a uniquely environmentally friendly manufacturing process. 

www.internationalbattery.com