New type of battery.

[bart]

   Not affiliated in any way, just passing along info.
Might be available this year?


 Kevin Bullis | Technology Review

Microgrids, which typically combine renewable energy, batteries, and conventional diesel generators to provide electricity around the clock, are bringing power to remote villages around the world that don't have access to the conventional grid. But they're limited by the high cost and short lifetimes of batteries. Aquion, a startup based in Pittsburgh, is developing a battery that could be just as cheap as lead-acid batteries—the cheapest available now—but last two or three times as long, greatly lowering the lifetime cost of microgrids.

[Bruce S]

It will be interesting to watch.
These will possibly be sodium-ion based batteries using a carbon anode.
They have shown promise in the past years.
Here's hoping they got the manufacture down to where its cost effective.
Sodium batteries are not new , but mostly they are molten salts and I'd NOT like to be around them if they get heated up:).
This does look promising!!
Thanks for the info.
Bruce S

[Frank S]

Bruce you are right A quote from their page
 ["Current lithium batteries are efficient and expensive. These batteries cost between $500 and $1,000 per kilowatt hour stored to produce. A new type of battery made by business startup Aquion Energy uses sodium ions and costs only $300 per kilowatt hour stored and what is better, it can operate in temperatures between -10° C and 60° C and will last 5,000 cycles from a complete charge to a complete discharge."]

http://www.activefilings.com/startups/aquion-energy-revolutionizing-batteries/

[dnix71]

I hope this works. 5 times the lifespan fo lead acid at the same price would be a winner. The inventor gives a detailed interview on the materials and process here. It does not sound like vaporware. MnOxide and carbon plus sodium and water.

http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/science-scope/video-batteries-made-of-salt-water-last-10x-longer/10976

[BillBlake]

If it was in China the University and the Government would be getting a nice big piece of
what sounds like 'Pittsburgh's 44 Tech'
with new Lips and probably some nice Secretary Leg.

(Otherwise somebody would be getting to stand in front of the wall - in China.)

<snip> Pittsburgh's 44 Tech gets funding to develop battery for power grid; now hiring

Thursday, December 03, 2009.

http://www.keystoneedge.com/innovationnews/44tech1203.aspx

http://en.openei.org/wiki/44_Tech_Inc._Smart_Grid_Demonstration_Project

It does sound like a goodie.

Bill Blake

[bart]

   Goto aquionenergy home page; Then goto blog; Third post titled "Taking Our Work of the Grid: Using AHI Batteries with Solar"
(I think "of" is supposed to be "off")
Third picture down.
   Do you see your brand of charge controller and/or inverter?
Outback, Xantrex, Magnum, and hey boB, even a Classic!
   Now, if they would respond to an email......