The new lead battery technology – a solar storage game changer
Solar power uptake has hit enormous highs in recent years through a combination of factors. Firstly, the technology has become more efficient and more affordable, so consumers are getting more bang for their buck. Secondly, awareness of environmental issues, climate action and the need to reduce our carbon footprint has inspired many people to adopt clean, green energy. Finally, soaring electricity prices have tipped many residential homeowners and businesses to make the transition in a bid to save money.
Another major development in recent years has been solar battery solutions, like the Tesla Powerwall. This enables homes and businesses to store excess power in a low-profile battery which they can use at night time, during long periods of inclement weather or during major outages. While this technology is not new, for the first time it has become affordable, accessible and the batteries themselves don’t take up la
Courtesy of Consortium for Battery Innovation (CBI)
The project is being conducted in collaboration with the Instituto de Nanociencia y Materiales de Aragón (INMA) and EU-based battery company Exide Technologies. It is one of a range of advanced battery innovation studies underway funded by CBI.
The hi-tech process, which images the entire crystal structure of the battery as it operates, allows battery experts to observe and control the processes impacting battery life and performance. It utilises the NG6 cold neutron imaging instrument at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST, US) to provide imaging for the European team of scientists.
New lead battery technology could be lower-cost solution to store solar energy
Solar panels.
US-based engineers have joined forces to develop high-voltage reference batteries for behind-the-meter energy storage applications, based on a bipolar technology that uses silicon wafers in traditional lead batteries.
The wafers are similar to those in photovoltaic cells and the idea is that the development becomes a ‘plug and play’ solar-powered energy storage system.
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The bipolar technology is known as Silicon Joule and has been developed by Gridtential Energy with the goal of reducing lead batteries’ weight and achieving a performance competitive with that of lithium-ion batteries, but at a lower cost.
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Gridtential Energy and EAI working to develop hi-tech batteries to support boost in demand for household solar energy
Friday, 26 February 2021 Engineers from Gridtential Energy Inc. and Electric Applications Incorporated (EAI), supported by the Consortium for Battery Innovation (CBI), are working to further develop quick and safe ‘plug and play’ solar powered energy storage systems to meet the boom in demand for renewable, and secure, energy in US homes. Courtesy of NREL.
Gridtential Energy is the pioneer of Silicon Joule, a bipolar battery technology which uses silicon wafers (similar to those in solar cells) in traditional lead batteries to reduce weight and achieve performance competitive with lithium-ion at a lower cost. The new research project will combine Silicon Joule technology with the testing expertise of (EAI) to develop high voltage reference batteries specifically for so-called behind-the-meter energy storage applications.
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DURHAM, N.C., Feb. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ Engineers at Gridtential Energy, Inc. and Electric Applications Incorporated (EAI), supported by the
Consortium for Battery Innovation (CBI), are working to further develop quick and safe plug and play solar powered energy storage systems to meet the boom in demand for renewable, and secure, energy in U.S. homes.
Gridtential Energy is the pioneer of Silicon Joule™, an innovative bipolar battery technology, which uses silicon wafers (similar to those in solar cells) in traditional lead batteries to reduce weight and achieve performance competitive with lithium-ion at a lower cost. The new research project will combine Silicon Joule technology with the testing expertise of EAI to develop high voltage reference batteries specifically for so-called behind-the-meter energy storage applications.