Battery Power - May/June 2012 - (Page 5)

Editor’s Choice Having multiple proprietary and competing battery interface solutions in the market lowers volumes for each product and consequently produces higher costs. This is true especially for smart batteries and likely has impacted their lagging adoption rate in the mobile device market despite the clear benefits of smart battery technology. The MIPI Battery Interface specification has been developed to meet these challenges. Offering a unique, unified solution, the specification is designed to replace all existing proprietary mobile device battery interface solutions and supports both smart and low-cost batteries. manufacturing capability and enable the completion of EnerVault’s first installation. The one megawatt-hour system will be installed with partner Raytheon Ktech at a solar installation located near Turlock, Calif. Demand Spike for Backup Power Systems Stokes Growth in the Global Stationary Lead Acid Battery Market EnerVault Corp. has completed a $15.5 million Series B financing, bringing total funding to date to $24.5 million. The investor funds complement the company’s grant awards totaling $5.5 million from the US Department of Energy (DOE), California Energy Commission (CEC) and New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). EnerVault is developing energy storage systems based on a novel redox flow battery technology. According to market research firms Boston Consulting Group and Pike Research, the stationary energy storage market is expected to grow to more than $10 billion over the next five years. Analysts expect more than 30 percent per year growth based on the increased use of advanced battery technologies to stabilize the electric grid, supplement new smart-grid technologies and enable the wide-scale use of wind and solar energy. “Redox flow batteries are creating a new paradigm for gridscale energy storage,” said Richard See, investment partner at MGI. “Because you scale the power independently of energy storage capacity, you can tailor the system to the needs of the application. EnerVault’s approach expands upon the fundamental configuring and sizing benefits of flow batteries to yield the best approach for utility-scale electricity. The more energy needed, the lower the costs, so it’s ideally suited for a number of situations where more than an hour or two of storage is needed.” “There is a high level of interest in our systems for addressing the stationary energy storage market,” said EnerVault CEO and co-founder Dr. Craig Horne. “Utilizing our patented Engineered Cascade technology, we are able to develop large-scale energy storage systems needed in a variety of applications with an unmatched combination of cost-effectiveness, safety and reliability.” “We see very significant opportunities for stationary energy storage systems to complement renewable energies and improve grid reliability and overall energy supply,” said Manoelle Lepoutre, senior vice president Sustainable Development and Environment of Total and president of Total Energy Ventures International. “EnerVault’s innovative technology addresses the key issues needed to integrate storage onto the grid or to complement intermittent renewable energy projects.” The latest round of funding augments grant awards from the DOE ARRA Storage Demonstration program to establish pilot www.BatteryPowerOnline.com Redox Flow Battery Architecture Enables Safe, CostEffective and Reliable Energy Storage for MegawattScale Applications The global stationary lead acid (SLA) battery market is poised to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.8 percent from 2011 to 2017. SLAs have been used for more than a century as a backup/standby power solution in support of various critical applications. Over time, SLA batteries have established a solid reputation as a reliable and rugged solution. New analysis from Frost & Sullivan’s Global Stationary Lead Acid (SLA) Battery Market research finds that the market earned revenues of $4.18 billion in 2010 and estimates this to reach $6.62 billion in 2017. The environmentally friendly nature and widespread product availability strengthens the position of SLA batteries as the solution of choice for many industrial-based end-users. Extensive distribution and service networks are contributing to a strong uptake of the technology. Additionally, mergers and acquisitions have increased brand awareness as well as network distribution capabilities and expanded presence. In terms of cost effectiveness, SLAs have established a clear lead ahead of competing energy storage solutions. Cost efficiency is measured by initial investment and maintenance costs, as well as performance reliability and widespread availability for addressing time-sensitive replacement situations. Although alternative battery chemistries, such as lithium ion polymer, nickel-cadmium (NiCd) and nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) are gaining steady traction in the market, there is no threat of an industry transition to these energy storage solutions any time soon. Limited product differentiation is rampant throughout this mature market. The failure to discern product quality allows less capable units to force prices down and presents an illusion that units are identical and devoid of performance variance. A major challenge within the SLA battery market is the extreme volatility of lead prices. From 2009 to 2010, the industry witnessed an increase of nearly 45 percent. Constant pricing adjustments to compensate for such drastic fluctuations are highly impractical. As a result, vendors absorb the cost difference initially until it is eventually passed on to the consumer. Furthermore, factors such as global competition among SLA battery manufacturers, production overcapacity in some areas, and overall mature market conditions have contributed to decreased profit margins. May/June 2012 • Battery Power 5 http://www.BatteryPowerOnline.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Battery Power - May/June 2012

Battery Power - May/June 2012
New Battery Interface Specification to Address Key Consumer and Manufacturers’ Issues
Demand Spike for Backup Power Systems Stokes Growth in the Global Stationary Lead Acid Battery Market
Battery Management Considerations for Large Cell Count Systems
Flywheel Energy Storage – A UPS Battery’s Best Friend
Zero-Volt: Medical and Satellite Battery Technology Can Help Improve Safety of Electric Vehicles
Second Edition of IEC 62133: The Standard for Secondary Cells and Batteries Containing Alkaline or Other Non-Acid Electrolytes is in its Final Review Cycle
Batteries
ICs and Semiconductors
Charging & Testing
Components
Power Supplies
Industry News
Marketplace
Calendar of Events
Research and Development

Battery Power - May/June 2012