An expert in the utility-scale solar industry has joined zinc-hybrid energy storage system maker Eos Energy Storage’s board as the firm ramps up manufacturing and large-scale deployment.
Jim Hughes joined Eos as Chairman of the Board to help guide the development of its hybrid zinc cathode, aqueous electrolyte-based battery technology from development to commercial deployment.
The company’s core product the Eos Aurora® 1000│4000 is a 1MW/4MWh DC battery system employing its Znyth technology.
The Eos Aurora costs around $160 per usable kWh with a 20-year lifetime promise from the firm.
Hughes, the former CEO of US PV maker First Solar, said the energy industry was now waking up to the benefits of ESSs following a fall in costs during the last few years.
He said: “The cost reductions have been so rapid that I don’t think the broader energy industry yet recognises the value it will represent as part of the system, and that the economics of energy storage are not only competitive, but have the near term potential to be disruptive.
“Eos has focused on developing a technology and product that outcompetes the lithium-ion incumbent, not just on dollar per kWh upfront capital cost but on the lifetime cost of energy delivered.”
The appointment of Hughes comes about a month after the New-York start-up closed a $23million private placement— having raised $50million in three previous investment rounds.
Eos has partnered with utilities such as Con Edison of New York, Engie, and Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) to test and validate it product in large-scale deployments.
This includes a 10MW/40MWh project with PG&E to provide grid reliability.