Sydney-based Ecoult has just launched its medium-scale 25 kW Ultrabattery-backed energy storage system UltraFlex.
The supercharged lead-acid battery hybrid is the result of Australian Government-funded development of Ecoult’s Deka UltraBattery technology, which was rolled out in MW scale applications in 2013.
The 25 kW medium-scale industrial, agricultural, off-grid UltraFlex was launched at the All Energy Conference in Melbourne, Australia, this week.
Ecoult claims UltraFlex offers longer cycle life in a partial state of charge, symmetric high-rate charge and discharge and is ideal for smoothing industrial and agricultural loads, optimising generator efficiency and integrating intermittent renewable generation.
In a pilot project, a single UltraFlex enabled a company to cut its diesel usage to almost zero and obtain close to 100% of its power from renewable energy.
Ecoult CEO John Wood said: “Lead-acid chemistry really is the giant hiding in plain sight in the search for energy storage resources to support the integration of higher proportions of renewables in a whole of system approach.”
Ecoult, a subsidiary of the US-based East Penn Manufacturing, told BEST it is currently working on an UltraBattery for residential off-grid storage systems.
In a sector dominated by lithium-ion, the announcement marks a refreshing change: this newshound can only recall one other lead-acid ESS.
In June, British technology start-up Powervault unveiled its 2kWh and 4 kWh deep cycle lead-acid home ESS. More here
