US flow battery company ESS said the US Army ordered one of its Energy Warehouse (EW) storage systems and incorporated it into a tactical microgrid. It will demonstrate how long-duration energy storage, specifically iron flow battery technology, can help reduce fuel consumption at temporary locations providing humanitarian assistance or disaster relief.
The EW system has a rated energy capacity of 400kWh dc at electrolyte temperature of 50°C
“Flexible, long-duration energy storage, like the ESS system, reduces total runtime on generators while increasing efficiency and allowing generators to last longer at Forward Operating Bases,” said Tom Decker, operational energy programme manager at the US Army Corps of Engineers R&D centre in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.
ESS said most contingency bases are powered by diesel generators. Variation in output results in inefficient operation, increasing fuel consumption, it said. They are often in remote areas where fuel resupply is difficult.
Reducing fuel demand at these bases reduces costs and emissions, as well as unnecessary fuel resupplies.
Decker said iron flow battery deployment can increase resiliency with up to 12 hours’ energy. ESS products use iron, salt and water.
Financial details were not disclosed.
