Utility-Scale Energy Storage Innovations

How could liquid metal batteries unleash the power of grid-scale renewable energy? Let’s explore how Ambri is advancing long-duration energy storage technology, a critical component in our shift to intermittent renewable energy sources like solar and wind. Ambri's innovative battery design features three liquid layers: a light metal on top, a dense metal at the bottom, and molten salt in the middle as the electrolyte. During discharge, calcium alloy separates into calcium ions and electrons, with the ions migrating to the antimony layer and electrons flowing out to perform work. This process is reversed during charging, offering a unique approach to energy storage. Key Advantages of Ambri's Batteries: [1] Lower Cost: By using common materials, they provide a cost-effective alternative to lithium-ion batteries. [2] Longevity: These batteries offer over 20 years of lifespan with minimal degradation, ensuring long-term reliability. [3] Safety and Reliability: Designed to tolerate over-charging and over-discharging without risks like thermal runaway. [4] Recyclability: The use of commonly available, recyclable materials underscores Ambri's commitment to environmental responsibility. In its early commercialization phase, Ambri has achieved significant milestones, such as successful pilot projects with Xcel Energy and Microsoft, and is scaling up production to meet growing demand. The company has also formed strategic partnerships, signaling industry confidence in its technology. The potential of Ambri's liquid metal battery technology in revolutionizing grid-scale renewable energy deployment is immense. The focus now shifts to overcoming scaling challenges and demonstrating real-world application efficacy. Ambri's growing collaborations and investments are promising steps toward these goals. How do you see this innovative technology shaping our sustainable energy future? Could Ambri emerge as a key player in energy storage? Share your thoughts and let’s discuss the evolving landscape of energy storage. --- I research and simplify climate change, energy, and decarbonization topics. If you find these insights valuable and informative, follow me, Lalit Patidar, for more content like this. Source: Ambri #energystorage #batterytechnology #renewableenergy #climatetech

🔋 VB 106: Thermal Batteries Poised to Reshape Energy Storage 🌍 🌡️ Thermal batteries convert electricity into heat, store it, and release it when needed, reaching temperatures up to 1,500-1,700°C with an impressive 95% round-trip efficiency. ♨️ 💸 Shifting economics of clean energy and favorable regulations have propelled thermal battery technology into the spotlight, with VC investments surging 5x between 2020 and 2023. 📈 🏭 Industries remain the biggest target market for thermal batteries, with US industries consuming 1.02 trillion kWh of electricity in 2022 and manufacturing accounting for 36% of all greenhouse emissions. 🏗️ 💡 Startups like Antora Energy and Rondo Energy are frontrunners in the industrial decarbonization space, leveraging thermal battery technology to fulfill large industrial operations demands. 🔧 📉 The cost of thermal batteries is projected to fall considerably due to economies of scale and technology improvements, ranging from $85 to $210 per kWh by 2025 and further down to $20 to $55 per kWh by 2035. 💰 🌞 Renewable-thermal energy emerges as a cost-competitive alternative to natural gas for industrial heating, particularly in regions abundant in renewables. 🍃 🏢 Large commercial buildings can also use thermal batteries to cut heating and cooling expenses, while startups like Fourth Power Energy are developing localized thermal grids to optimize energy distribution and reduce costs. 🔌 🌐 To achieve a clean grid and progress towards net-zero emissions by 2050, we need around 7.7 terawatt-hours of electricity storage globally, highlighting the urgency for innovative solutions like those offered by Malta. 🔋 📊 With the global industrial thermal energy storage market expected to reach $4.5 billion by 2034, growing at a 75% CAGR between 2024 and 2034, thermal battery start-ups are poised for immense growth. 🚀 🔗: https://lnkd.in/ecREMPSh #PhotonicChips #ThermalBatteries #Semiconductors #CleanEnergy #tech #preipo #siliconvalley #unicorn #MVPALLSTARFUND #mvpvc #mvp #therealmvpvc #venturebytes #allstar #ipo #research #technology #tommorowsipostoday #SecondaryAsAService #saas #SecondariesAsAService #Ai #Defense #Security #cybersecurity #VentureBytes #LiquidityWatchlist Santosh Rao Manhattan Venture Partners

An interesting Stanford University study by Mark Jacobson reveals that combining #batterystorage with #hydrogen #fuelcells offers a cost-effective and reliable solution for powering 100% clean, renewable electricity grids globally. Does this point in the direction of a future grid without #fossilfuels? Here are some takeaways from the study: 1. Innovative Approach: A pioneering study by Stanford University, led by Professor Mark Z. Jacobson, demonstrates that a combination of battery storage and hydrogen fuel cells can provide a low-cost, reliable energy solution as countries, including the U.S., transition to 100% clean, renewable electricity grids. This challenges the prevailing notion that fossil fuels are indispensable for continuous power supply. 2. Comprehensive Analysis: Utilizing advanced computer modeling, the study dispels myths surrounding the reliability of renewable energy sources. It concludes that a mix of renewable energy, alongside battery and hydrogen fuel cell storage, can maintain power supply 24/7, all year round, without the need for conventional energy resources like fossil fuels or nuclear power. 3. Economic Benefits: Transitioning to clean, renewable energy sources could slash annual energy costs by approximately 61% globally. This significant reduction in costs underscores the economic viability and efficiency of embracing renewable energy technologies. 4. Strategic Energy Storage: The study highlights the complementary roles of batteries and green hydrogen in energy storage. Batteries are identified as more cost-effective for short-term power needs, while green hydrogen offers a more economical solution for long-term energy storage, contributing to the overall stability and affordability of a renewable energy grid. 5. Global Implications: Jacobson's research provides a robust framework for energy planning, offering countries concrete evidence to support the transition to 100% renewable energy grids. It showcases successful models of renewable grids in various countries and states, demonstrating the feasibility and reliability of such an approach on a global scale. https://lnkd.in/gAsAuDmb

Battery industry veterans are coming together to launch Peak Energy, which aims to mass-produce giant batteries to even out production fluctuations from renewable energy sources, like wind and solar power generators. Because Peak Energy is focused on scaling up production of battery technology that already exists, they don’t think of themselves as a traditional “startup.” “A normal Silicon Valley startup is 10 years in the lab, come up with a better mousetrap and go to market. We’re completely the opposite,” Cameron Dales, president and chief commercial officer of Peak Energy, told CNBC in a video interview Friday. Peak Energy hopes to partner with a technology company (yet to be selected) that is already an expert in battery technology but does not have the capacity to scale manufacturing. “In the battery market it turns out the rarest commodity is not the technology — there are many excellent ideas out there at academic labs and startups — but rather the ability to scale to manufacturing,” CEO Landon Mossburg told CNBC. “The difficulty of manufacturing scale up is one of the reasons you see so many ‘breakthrough battery technology’ announcements but very very few companies who actually reach market.” Peak Energy launched in June and is coming out of stealth on Wednesday, announcing a $10 million funding round lead by Greg Reichow at Eclipse, a Silicon Valley venture capital firm. Before joining Eclipse, Reichow worked at Tesla for more than five years, where he was responsible for battery, motor and electronics manufacturing and then led global manufacturing. Also joining the funding raise is TDK Ventures, the corporate venture capital arm of the Tokyo-headquartered multinational electronics company TDK. “The No. 1 issue we face as it relates to expanding renewable energy sources is storage,” Reichow told CNBC. “This problem must be solved, but the existing approaches using lithium-ion and other technologies are not yet at a price point that enables the kind of scaling that society needs across sectors.” Demand for grid-scale storage will continue to grow. The U.S. Energy Information Administration has projected that battery storage capacity will grow from 9 gigawatts in 2022 to 49 gigawatts in 2030 and then to 247 gigawatts in 2050. That’s a baseline projection that includes the Inflation Reduction Act and assumes no additional changes in U.S. policy throughout the projection period. #batterytech #renewables #transmission #climatechange #climatetech

Overcoming CAISO's Challenges: The Role of Utility-Scale Battery Storage As the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) navigates modern energy demands and climate goals, it faces unique challenges. To maintain grid reliability and integrate more renewable energy, CAISO must innovate. Utility-scale battery storage and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) provide crucial support to address these challenges. Challenges CAISO Faces Renewable Integration: California aims for 100% clean electricity by 2045. Solar and wind power are essential but intermittent, causing reliability issues as production doesn't always match demand. Grid Stability: Renewable energy variability can cause frequency and voltage fluctuations, threatening grid stability. CAISO must balance supply and demand to prevent blackouts. Peak Demand: Energy demand peaks in the late afternoon and evening when solar generation wanes, necessitating additional resources that often rely on fossil fuels, contradicting clean energy goals. Wildfires and Extreme Weather: Frequent wildfires and extreme weather threaten grid infrastructure, requiring rapid response mechanisms to maintain integrity. Benefits of Utility-Scale Battery Storage Energy Shifting: Battery storage captures excess solar and wind energy during low demand, releasing it during peak times, smoothing supply-demand mismatches, reducing fossil fuel reliance, and enhancing grid reliability. Frequency Regulation: Batteries respond to grid fluctuations in milliseconds, providing critical frequency regulation and stabilizing the grid. Backup Power: During emergencies, battery storage provides backup power, ensuring continuous energy supply to critical infrastructure and communities, enhancing resilience. Reducing Curtailment: Without storage, surplus renewable energy gets curtailed. Battery storage minimizes curtailment, enhancing overall efficiency and sustainability. Economic Efficiency: Utility-scale batteries can defer or eliminate costly infrastructure upgrades, optimize existing resources, and reduce the need for peaking power plants, offering a cost-effective solution. Conclusion Utility-scale battery storage is crucial for achieving a resilient, reliable, and sustainable energy future in California. As CAISO tackles renewable integration, grid stability, peak demand, and climate-related disruptions, battery storage offers a versatile solution. The Inflation Reduction Act significantly supports this technology by providing financial incentives, infrastructure investments, and fostering innovation. Embracing utility-scale battery storage, with IRA backing, addresses immediate operational needs and paves the way for a cleaner, greener energy landscape Have a lot more to write here but unfortunately Linkedin limits my character limit. Will post it soon on my medium channel #renewables #energystorage #batterystorage #BESS #batteries #greenpower

🌞 Innovations in Energy: California's Journey Toward a Sustainable Future. As we head into what will probably be another temperature record-breaking summer in 2024, I was looking back at some of the innovations and growth that California and #CAISO have been showing the energy industry in the past few years. #California, a renewable energy leader, aims for 100% clean electricity by 2045. With CAISO, it's integrating 35,000 MWs of renewables into the grid, 9,000 MWs added in the last 3 years. Some interesting facts about California & CAISO: ☀ California has been a #solarenergy leader, but Texas has rapidly increased its utility-scale solar capacity since 2019, nearly doubling it from 2019 to 2020 and again from 2020 to 2021. This growth is due to lower construction and operating costs of solar power plants, contributing to their expansion on the Texas network. Unlike California, where policies have largely driven solar growth, Texas market dynamics have played a central role, highlighting economic shifts in the #energysector. 🔋 In California, battery energy storage systems helped prevent #blackouts during the 2020 and 2022 heat waves. In August 2020, when demand peaked at 46.8 GW, power outages occurred. However, during the September 2022 heat wave, despite higher demand reaching 51.4 GW, new battery energy storage systems provided 3.4 GW of peak generation, helping prevent blackouts. The increased battery capacity introduced between 2020 and 2022 has had a significant impact on solving grid problems. 🌱 In 2022, California enacted significant regulatory reforms aimed at streamlining the process of building thousands of megawatts of clean power. The state has a comprehensive #electricity supply and energy storage planning process in place to help accelerate new clean energy projects. 💲 California's $7.3 billion grid modernization plan, approved by CAISO, is key to reaching the state's #carbonfreeenergy goal by 2045. It includes new high-voltage lines to connect clean energy sources, potentially lowering electric bills. This is crucial as more areas discourage natural gas and promote #cleanenergy. 🔄 CAISO manages California's energy grid, balancing supply and demand while integrating renewables. #BatteryStorage success shows the importance of investing in #renewables for grid reliability globally. As we look to the future, California's energy landscape serves as a testament to the power of innovation, resilience, and the collective effort toward a sustainable and reliable energy future. Powin remains committed to supporting CAISO in improving network reliability and resilience. We currently have 1,300 megawatt-hours (MWh) commissioned and 3,180 MWh under construction in California. Our advanced battery energy storage solutions, coupled with our commitment to innovation and collaboration, will help ensure a secure and sustainable energy supply in California and beyond. 🌟 #RenewableEnergy #GridReliability #Sustainability #CAISO

𝗨.𝗦. 𝗯𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗻𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰. Why? To bridge the gap between renewable energy's potential and its reliability. Battery storage offers a solution to one of renewable energy's most significant challenges. 👉 Intermittency. Solar and wind power is abundant and sustainable. But is not always available on demand. So store excess energy during peak production times. Then release it when needed. Projections indicate an 89% surge in U.S. battery storage capacity to exceed 30 gigawatts (GW) by the end of 2024 Leading this change are California and Texas with the five largest new U.S. battery storage projects scheduled for deployment in 2024 and 2025: - Lunis Creek BESS SLF (Texas, 621 MW) - Clear Fork Creek BESS SLF (Texas, 600 MW) - Hecate Energy Ramsey Storage (Texas, 500 MW) - Bellefield Solar and Energy Storage Farm (California, 500 MW) - Dogwood Creek Solar and BESS (Texas, 443 MW) California currently leads with 7.3 GW followed by Texas with 3.2 GW. Globally, we're seeing a decisive move towards battery plants over gas power plants. They offer a more flexible, efficient, and sustainable solution for managing the intermittency of renewable energy sources. How do you think this will impact the national energy grids? #innovation #technology #energy #sustainability #electricalengineering Source: US Energy Information Administration ASEC ENGINEERS - Engineering your success, delivering precision and innovation in every project since 1991.

I find it ironic that just before Canary Media Inc.'s Julian Spector published "A huge battery has replaced Hawaii’s last coal plant," I came across an 8 January press release from Hawaiian Electric announcing rolling outages on Oahu "due to insufficient generation." The next day, HECO explained "The rolling blackouts started shortly before 8 p.m., after energy produced by wind farms started to fall off significantly. Hawaiian Electric had warned Oahu customers about the possibility of rolling blackouts and urged them to conserve energy after two large generating units at Waiau Power Plant went offline this afternoon. In addition, due to heavy cloud cover and rainy conditions across the island, production from solar energy systems was reduced and battery energy storage systems could not charge to full capacity." This highlights the need for long-duration energy storage such as Pintail Power's Liquid Salt Combined Cycle (LSCC). LSCC can be added to existing gas turbines to provide incremental zero-carbon capacity fed by several Gigawatt-hours of long-duration #EnergyStorage at a fraction of the cost of batteries. LSCC decouples energy from power, charging from discharging, and the gas turbine from the steam cycle to deliver: * low cost bulk storage (<$25/kWh-e incremental capex), * flexible charging that can provide fast frequency response and regulation while offering fast charging to maximize arbitrage of excess renewables, * fast startup to exceptional heat rate (<4500 Btu/kWh) by pre-heating the steam cycle from storage, without using fuel, * ability to offer real synchronous inertia using the steam turbine without using fuel. Here are some links: * https://lnkd.in/gA74gxzc * https://lnkd.in/gYhQSP-T * https://lnkd.in/gKH_RzSe