Energy Storage

Researchers at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) have demonstrated the use of sugar water to improve the performance of flow batteries for grid-scale energy storage.

Researchers led by Korea’s UNIST developed a new redox flow battery concept that utilizes iron and chromium ore for redox chemistry. The proposed battery configuration may reportedly achieve a stable lifetime of 500 cycles, and a high-energy density of 38.6 Wh L−1.

Sumitomo says that its 2MW/8MWh vanadium redox flow battery achieved a 99% operating rate at San Diego Gas & Electric’s (SDG&E) facility in California. The battery is expected to retain a capacity rate of 90% or more for 20 years in the electricity market.

The growth of European rooftop solar continues this year, with innovative companies raising capital to develop the market. It’s an encouraging trend with the potential to accelerate rooftop solar adoption. pv magazine correspondent Valerie Thompson takes a closer look.

Hithium, a Chinese manufacturer of lithium-ion stationary energy storage systems, has announced a Series C funding round consisting of more than CNY 4.5 billion ($622 million). It will primarily use the funds to expand production capacity, procure advanced equipment, and conduct R&D.

Ausgrid has installed its first pole-mounted battery energy storage system as part of a trial to more effectively manage growing penetration of rooftop solar and periods of peak demand.

LEAG, Germany’s second largest energy supplier, is planning a power-to-X project to produce hydrogen, store waste heat, generate electricity, and supply buses with hydrogen. The plant will also have a thermal solid-state storage facility with a capacity of 1,000 MWh.

A series of fires that occurred between 2017 and 2019 brought South Korea’s energy storage market to a standstill. New research seeks now to shed light on all the causes of the accidents and analyzes several social factors that may have led to the continuous occurrence of the accidents.

Construction has started on Western Australia’s second grid-scale battery, as the state government looks to scale up energy storage capacity to support its planned transition from coal-fired power to renewables.

Australian renewables developer Genex Power has signed agreements with Japanese utility J-Power for a multimillion-dollar funding package that will support the delivery of its 2 GWh pumped hydro project in Queensland Australia, and the development of the 2 GW Bulli Creek solar and battery project.