Keeping Pace 2017 Issue Two
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Issue Two 2017
US university to partner with ALABC on solar-powered microgrid
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 spur on a lead Renaissance
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."
Further ALABC technical workshops in 2017
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.
General Assembly: ALABC at BCI
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