The US Air Force will use a nickel zinc energy storage system for black-start power services after signing a two-year deal with ZAF Energy Systems.
The Missouri, US, battery developer won a $1.4 million contract, to deliver a prototype stationary ESS to deliver back-up power until standby generators can be started at an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) ground facility.
The technology was chosen because it has a longer operational life and can be stored at zero charge, unlike lead-acid, and does not require a battery management system (BMS) like lithium-ion, say ZAF.
However, the system will use a BMS developed by Aerojet Rocketdyne to provide cell balancing and monitor the battery’s state of health.
Eivind Listerud, ZAF’s VP of Engineering, said, “In addition to having a longer operational life than the current lead-acid batteries, the Air Force is using nickel-zinc batteries that can be stored, without charging, for a very long time—as much as twenty years—without damage or the need for float charge.”
“Unlike lithium-ion batteries, which cannot operate without a battery management system (BMS), ZAF’s nickel-zinc batteries can perform well in commercial applications without a BMS,” said Randy Moore, president and CEO of the firm.
