Sydney-based company Ecoult is taking its energy storage products – powered by the UltraBattery – into Europe with an installation this month in Dublin to integrate fast-response storage with the electricity grid.
Ecoult has been selected by respected German specialist in renewable systems and power converter manufacturer, Freqcon, to provide battery storage for its Tallaght Smart Grid Testbed, which is operated by the Irish Micro Electricity Generation Association (MEGA).
Norbert Hennchen, CEO of Freqcon, said the system will demonstrate how a combination of energy storage and smart power electronics can minimise electricity distribution issues and grid instability in a micro grid.
“The market for grid-tied energy storage systems is growing, and fast frequency response is a valuable system service to the grid. Ecoult`s hybrid lead-acid UltraBattery is a very promising technology in this space and we are excited to partner with Ecoult and deploy the first unit in Europe,” Mr Hennchen said.
Ecoult’s ground-breaking technology has been proven in the US grid market, where the company has pioneered its hybrid lead-acid UltraBattery as a leading technology for fast-cycling, high-rate, partial state of charge functions. The UltraBattery is manufactured in the USA by Ecoult’s parent company East Penn Manufacturing.
Ecoult CEO John Wood said that the UltraBattery system, combined with the Freqcon power converters will show that energy storage can provide “synthetic inertia”, competing with and outperforming existing fossil fuel balancing resources.
“The UltraBattery is a hybrid technology. It contains both battery chemistry and ultracapacitor technology built into each cell,” Mr Wood explained.
“This Australian invention has the safety, sustainability and dependability of lead-acid, and has been shown to outperform other battery chemistries in similar applications. Since the technology is built on a proven and safe lead-acid platform, UltraBattery cells are recyclable and we’re delighted that Freqcon has chosen to partner with our technology and storage system.”
