Energy Storage

Canadian-headquartered underground heavy vehicle manufacturer MacLean, will deliver 30 electric powered graders to Australian resources giant Fortescue’s Western Australian mining operations toward a shared goal of Real Zero emissions by 2040.

Australian renewables developer and electricity retailer Flow Power will install a 3 MW DC-coupled battery energy storage system alongside the recently completed Cootamundra Solar Farm in New South Wales in a move designed to improve the flexibility of the facility.

The United States continues to set quarterly records for energy storage installations across each key market segment, said a report from Wood Mackenzie.

UK-based Caldera has developed a new heat storage technology that can reportedly convert on-site generated solar power into on-demand heat, thus replacing conventional gas boilers. The system uses a composite of recycled aluminum and volcanic rocks to store heat at up to 500 C and produce steam.

LG Chem has announced that its Platform Technology R&D team has developed a temperature-responsive Safety Reinforced Layer (SRL), a material which is described as capable of surpressing thermal runaway. The material was analyzed in collaboration with researchers from Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) in South Korea, while the safety verification was conducted in partnership with LG Energy Solution.

Once electricity prices hit $0.25/kWh, disconnecting from the grid with residential solar-plus-storage starts to become financially viable, with sunny places making strong financial arguments. With recent drops in battery prices, the case for leaving the grid has grown even stronger.

While different institutions are making the case for hydrogen production offshore or in proximity to the coast, the European Commission is preparing to move forward with its second hydrogen auction.

Western Australian battery technology company Altech Batteries has announced its first Cerenergy ABS60 salt-based battery energy storage system prototype is online and operating successfully across a range of temperatures, confirming its thermal stability and commercial viability.

Pending approval, a total of €167.6 million ($187.1 million) has been allocated toward 46 standalone thermal and electrical energy storage projects, with a cost range from €170/kWh to €409/kWh.

Chinese manufacturer Hinen has launched an integrated battery energy storage system with power options ranging from 3.6 kW to 25 kW for on- and off-grid residential applications.