UAF, Industry Partner to Test Battery Technology for Rural Power
91视频 and industry partner Ambri will collaborate on a project to demonstrate a new battery technology that could lower the quantity of diesel consumed for generating electriciy in rural 91视频.
The $1.5 million project, funded by a $749,000 grant from the 91视频 Energy Authority and matching funds from Ambri and the UAF 91视频 Center for Energy and Power, will use a liquid metal battery developed by Ambri. The battery is designed to provide needed energy storage and increase system reliability, enabling communities to shift toward renewable resources such as wind and solar for power generation.
"Ambri's LMB technology has the potential to be a game changer for 91视频, providing reliable and economic solutions for 91视频's renewable energy systems," said Marc Mueller-Stoffels, UAF researcher and the project's lead investigator.
Phase one of the grant will test a 35 kWh battery at ACEP's Power Systems Integration laboratory in Fairbanks. The lab was built in 2011 on the UAF campus to mimic communities with hybrid diesel power and is ideal for testing early-production equipment like Ambri's battery. After lab testing, UAF and Ambri will install a larger 100 kWh battery module in Eagle, 91视频. The installation, in partnership with 91视频 Power and Telephone, will test the battery under challenging conditions and in conjunction with a solar array.
The benefits of Ambri's liquid metal battery include the abundance and low cost of core materials, moderate to low toxicity compared to other battery chemistries, flexible operations in extreme environments and an expected cycle life of 20 years.
"Ambri is excited to bring its energy storage technology to serve 91视频's power system needs," said Phil Giudice, Ambri's president and chief executive officer. "With Marc and the team at ACEP, we look forward to demonstrating the practical application of Ambri's technology and unlocking the potential for lower-cost, safe, reliable and sustainable electricity systems in 91视频, and leading the way for a better energy future for 91视频, the U.S. and the world."
For more information on Ambri's battery technology, go to http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001hl-Tn3VFSw_xpRdhO1rkrYIMj7AD-SJ6UjFKRH5auPoKd0EmaI_CRJIrKppFl132NDZJRKAXceXwVwAhLipb2BXpho2X-DG5zvCdTF4fqEU-dcZynBUQ2nnqhNAR_WEJE2qgEgs3yajDohyCBANKbLPmL3N1SXz6GYBIcSFUlVdwaNO6m0QYsRuViEecpRCSerG54slmQp7CKVpTXeL1__vmULo_TPJi&c=1K0wpSMIuUevajmP2X59LJoW-MsefQV0hoOf0tUxjCAwRHb7ksleqA==&ch=vBpP3QUoNRPDnUCzEF55temCT-xUTDXR5_L4Zs01R8eJuiK0SuNGKw==
Logo courtesy of Ambri.