Issue Two 2017

The Advanced Lead Acid Battery Consortium (ALABC) will add its expertise to a project that aims to create a solar-powered microgrid on the campus of the Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T).  

The project involves the creation of an EcoVillage microgrid on the university campus in Rolla, Missouri, utilising solar panels in combination with lead battery energy storage units. In past projects, Missouri S&T has used lithium batteries, but is keen to use lead batteries in this project due to their excellent performance, reliability, cost and end of life recycling. 

Initial planning for the project was conducted at a recent meeting on the Missouri S&T campus with a number of key players, including ALABC member Doe Run, Ameren, Missouri Department of Economic Development Division of Energy and Missouri Public Utilities Alliance - ALABC members NorthStar, Exide and Enersys also attended the meeting.  

ALABC’s Alistair Davidson said: “From an ALABC point of view, this project is expected to highlight how lead batteries are the right choice in this type of application as we believe that they provide an excellent energy storage option for the project.”

Angie Rolufs, of the S&T Microgrid Industrial Consortium, said: "The planned partnership with ALABC aligns perfectly with our consortium vision. The project also provides the opportunity to tell a good news story from a Missouri economic development point of view, since lead is a Missouri natural resource.”

The project fits in well with ALABC’s current three-year energy storage technical communications program, which aims to highlight the benefits of using lead batteries. The lessons learnt about the performance of lead batteries in the project will be available to all the consortium’s 70+ member companies globally, with the potential to help determine the future direction of ALABC R&D.

If further battery companies are interested in participating and providing batteries for this project, please contact Alistair Davidson [email protected] It is anticipated that this project will start in October 2017.
 

Chinese battery makers are leading a Renaissance in lead acid battery science , delegates learned this month at a technical workshop organised by the Advanced Lead Acid Battery Consortium (ALABC) and Narada Power Source,  in Hangzhou, Eastern China

The workshop was attended by ALABC members (battery manufacturers and suppliers) from China, Europe and North America, as well as guests from the Chinese Battery Industry Association CBIA and leading Chinese universities.

Currently ALABC has three ongoing pre-competitive basic and applied science R&D projects in China, with three more in preparation. 

There are now several Chinese companies signed up as full members of the research consortium, which celebrates 25 years this year in progressing Advanced Lead Acid Technology. These include Camel Group, Chaowei Power, Shandong Jinkeli Power Sources, Shandong Sacred Sun Power Sources, Shuangdeng Group (China Shoto), Tianneng Power and Zhejiang Narada Power Source.

Boris Monahov, program director of ALABC (pictured), said: “There is no doubt about whether the Chinese battery industry is committed to lead batteries. Lead-acid technology is the beating heart of vehicle electric systems, utility and renewable electrical energy storage, telecommunications, motive power and remote power supply in China and the countries it exports to.

"Furthermore, it’s clear that the industry is strongly committed to improving the environmental impact of batteries through much improved recycling and better emission control.”

The Chinese battery manufacturers, in ALABC membership, cover all sectors in China, from automotive, grid-scale storage  projects championed by companies like Narada, Sacred Sun and China Shoto, to the use of lead carbon technology by companies like Chaowei and Tianneng, the two biggest battery makers in the world for e-bikes, low speed electric vehicles, energy storage and UPS.

Alistair Davidson, of the International Lead Association, which manages the ALABC, said: “The Chinese battery industry fully appreciates that there will be many forms of e mobility - from low speed vehicles to e bikes and lead acid is a cost effective power source and will remain so for many years to come."
 

ALABC will hold two further technical workshops in 2017 in Europe and North America, aimed at allowing regional battery experts to discuss key areas for improvement of lead batteries.
 
The topic of each workshop will be specific to the major application in each region. The purpose of each workshop identify the key areas for research that would be expected to result in improved lead battery performance.  A white paper of the workshops be developed after each meeting.

Workshop two: Varna, Bulgaria, Monday, 12 June

Held the day before the LABAT Conference this workshop will be jointly organised with the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. The focus will be on batteries for start-stop vehicles and 12V/48V mild hybrids, as well as batteries for renewable energy storage.

In addition, the 2017 ALABC Members and Contractors Meeting will take place the day before on Sunday, 11 June.

Workshop three: North Carolina, USA (late Oct/early Nov TBC)

This workshop will focus on storage batteries for grid support, as well as batteries for start-stop vehicles.  Further information will be provided later in the year.

The next General Assembly Meeting of ALABC will be held from 9am-12pm on Wednesday 3 May 2017 at the Hyatt Regency, Jacksonville, Florida.  

This meeting will follow the BCI Convention and Power Mart Expo which will be held 30 April-2 May 2017.
 
An ALABC Technical Communications Meeting will be held from 3.15pm-5pm on Tuesday 2 May 2017 at the same location.   
 
Please can you let Anita Wright know by the 15 March if you wish to attend these meetings.  Further information and agendas for the meetings will be circulated in due course.

OTHER BATTERY NEWS

Ecoult Takes Its Hybrid Superconductor and Lead-Acid Battery Global

East Penn's Motive Power Division Receives Prominent Industry Award

Black Diamond Structures opens new advanced battery testing facility

Concorde Battery Corporation Receives Gold Boeing Performance Excellence Award

China Shoto pushes for 4000 cycle high temp battery

BCI Innovation Award attracts submissions from industry leaders