Energy storage solutions company Eos Energy Storage and Ideal Power Inc. a developer of a disruptive power conversion technology has announced Eos has selected Ideal Power's 30 kW battery converter technology to be integrated with its Aurora energy storage system.
This system will be connected to the grid and deployed by Con Edison in a New York City pilot project in the second quarter.
The Aurora system employs Eos' safe, low-cost zinc hybrid cathode (ZnythTM) battery technology and is designed to enhance renewable energy generation, increase grid efficiency and resiliency, and reduce utility costs and electricity bills.
The compact modular design of the battery pack and power converter is uniquely suited for office buildings and facilities with space-constrained environments.
"We have successfully tested Ideal Power's 30 kW battery converter with our Aurora system to demonstrate bi-directional AC power flow and have been very pleased with the results," said Michael Oster, CEO of Eos Energy Storage. "Based on this performance, Eos has selected Ideal Power for the multi-kW scale distributed energy storage system to be installed at a Con Edison site."
Eos' low-cost Aurora battery system is designed specifically to meet the requirements of the grid-scale energy storage market. With many hours' discharge capability, immediate response time, and modular construction, the Aurora system can be scaled and configured to maximize profitability in utility, commercial and industrial and residential market segments.
"We are pleased to support the innovative work by Eos and to be selected for the pilot project with Con Ed. This represents an opportunity to demonstrate our complementary technologies and to create a best-in-class AC-integrated energy storage system," said Dan Brdar, chairman and CEO of Ideal Power.
Ideal Power's 30 kW battery converter offers high efficiency in a compact, modular and easy-to-install solution that can improve the economics for energy storage applications.
It is based on the company's patented power packet switching architectur (PPSA) that provides electrical isolation without the use of a bulky and expensive transformer. Among the many benefits of PPSA is the capability to reduce the size, cost, and efficiency loss associated with conventional systems.
Eos enters 2014 after a year of meeting aggressive development and prototyping goals. It completed its first AC-integrated system, putting the company's Znyth battery technology on track to achieve its $160/kWh commercial cost and performance targets.
Ideal Power begins the year on the heels of a successful IPO and plans to begin shipping commercial samples of its next generation 3-Port Hybrid Converters this year. The demonstration project with Con Edison is supported by funding from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).
