G.M. Cowles, G.G. Yadav
Urban Electric Power, Inc.,
United States
Keywords: zinc batteries, long duration energy storage systems, rechargeable alkaline chemistry
Summary:
Long duration energy storage (LDES) is rapidly becoming a vital part of the energy storage industry, as global electric grids are moving towards a 100% renewable generation mix. The intermittent nature of renewable energy makes it necessary to have energy storage systems that can discharge stored energy from anywhere between 8 and 100+ hours. Historically, energy storage systems operating in these durations have not been viable either from a technical or economic standpoint. However, recent advancements in electrochemical energy storage technologies have made LDES systems more ready for commercial deployment to meet the growing market need. Urban Electric Power (UEP) manufactures rechargeable battery energy storage systems using its patented rechargeable zinc-manganese dioxide (ZnMnO2) battery technology. This technology has been developed over 15 years and was initially conceived through research performed at the City College of New York and funded by ARPA-E. UEP was established in 2012 to commercialize the rechargeable ZnMnO2 battery technology for stationary energy storage systems which are designed to provide power resilience, demand management, and renewable energy firming. Since its founding, UEP has built a manufacturing plant in New York State, deployed several demonstration projects, and completed a variety of key product safety testing, including UL 1973 and UL 9540A. Performance testing of UEP batteries in both laboratory and field settings has demonstrated the technology’s ability to serve long duration energy storage applications, ranging from 8 to 24 hours per discharge cycle. Following these certifications and testing, UEP has begun developing a line of battery energy storage systems to meet the needs of commercial and industrial (C&I) customers and build a recurring revenue stream. This presentation will explore the current and future market applications for long duration energy storage systems, and where rechargeable zinc-manganese dioxide batteries can provide the most value. UEP battery performance and testing data will be presented to inform attendees of the latest developments for this technology.