The funding to Ultralife Corp is to design, develop, prototype, scale-up and install a 1 MWh lithium-ion energy storage system on the company’s corporate campus in Newark, New York. The system will integrate lithium-ion batteries, ultracapacitors and generation from wind, solar and other renewable energy sources.
When integrated in future with the smart grid concept, the system will manage energy for consumption or for storage.
The Ultralife system will initially integrate two distinct power storage technologies, including a battery and ultracapacitor, on a distributed off-grid level. It will then expand the capability for on-grid integration.
The system will allow both grid operators and renewable energy generators to optimise energy management through an advanced computerised monitoring and control system, which will enable customers to control the storage and flow of power they generate.
The energy, environmental and economic benefits include a product manufactured in the state of New York, which will facilitate creation of additional distributed renewable energy capability.
Funding from battery storage coalition
Ultralife received the award from NYSERDA to support the work of the New York Battery & Energy Storage Consortium (NY-BEST), an industry coalition that is developing and accelerating commercialisation of energy storage technologies in the state.
A significant capacity of wind energy and other renewable energy power is already being generated in New York, but is wasted due to lack of storage options and inability to distribute power during peak demands. In addition, the inability to store and control wind and solar energy by utilities has discouraged development of utility-scale renewable facilities in grid congested areas of New York.
Ultralife will organise and lead a collaborative team of partners, including academic institutions, industrial and consulting firms to develop the system. This multiphase, multiyear project will provide the resources to prove that an energy storage and management system can efficiently and cost-effectively store and manage power generated from any source for use at optimal peak times.
“This project will further advance our strategy of introducing lithium ion energy storage systems and services, integrating energy monitoring, management technologies and services, linking lithium ion batteries to more renewable energy solutions for grid efficiency and deploying solar power solutions for remote, portable and stationary power applications,” explains John Kavazanjian of Ultralife.
“Developing more advanced energy storage technologies like this one is essential for us to achieve substantial reductions in our GHG emissions and to increase our use of renewable energy sources,” adds Francis Murray of NYSERDA.