Monday, October 8, 2012
Friday, October 5, 2012
GE Technology Powers New Agricultural Biogas Project in Poland
Press release:
05 October 2012
05 October 2012
GE Technology Powers New Agricultural Biogas Project in Poland
- GE’s Jenbacher Engines Driving New Agricultural Biogas Plantin Konopnica
- Bioenergy Project Highlights Poland’s Efforts to Support Renewable Energy
- Local Farmers to Supply Agricultural Products for Biogas Facility, Boosting Local Economy
- Project Reflects Global Expansion of Distributed Power to Enhance Regional Energy Security
WARSAW, POLAND—October 5, 2012—Showcasing Poland’s commitment to develop more renewable energy projects to reduce its dependence on coal, local officials yesterday celebrated the start-up of a new 1.99-megawatt agricultural biogas power plant north of the city of Rawa Mazowiecka in central Poland, 80 kilometers southeast of Warsaw. Two GE (NYSE: GE) ecomaginationTM-qualified Jenbacher gas engines power the plant.
The two Jenbacher J320 units generate reliable electrical and thermal power, with an electrical efficiency of 40.8 percent and total efficiency of 86.6 percent. In the near future, the installation will be connected to the local district heating network for businesses and residents in Rawa Mazowiecka. CHP technologies are inherently more energy efficient than separate electrical and thermal power systems.
The plant, which is located in the village of Konopnica, utilizes an innovative “dry fermentation” biogas production technology provided by F&M GmbH. This system converts local agricultural products into a renewable biogas that is used as fuel in GE’s Jenbacher biogas modules.
Poland is supporting the development of new biogas power projects as a key part of its “Energy Policy 2030” strategy to diversify its energy supplies.
“Our new agricultural biogas power plant project will stimulate our local economy as farmers in the area are given the opportunity to supply the agricultural products needed as raw feedstock for the biogas plant,” said Zofia Ossowska, general director of Bioenergy Project sp. z o.o. “Ourproject reflects the Polish government’s commitment to encourage investments in biogas plants.”
“The Bioenergy Project agricultural biogas plant in Konopnica demonstrates how our Jenbacher cogeneration technology is ideally suited to help Poland and other European countries to develop a cleaner, low-emission, distributed energy generation infrastructure to achieve greater energy efficiency and security while also reducing the environmental impacts of energy production,” said Michal Oprzadek, regional sales leader, Central & Eastern Europe, Russia and CIS—Gas Engines for GE Power & Water. “Our Jenbacher gas engines offer the fuel flexibility needed to accommodate natural gas or alternative fuels such as biogas while offering the industry’s highest levels of reliability and availability.”
The Bioenergy Project also serves as another example of cross-business cooperation between GE Power & Water and GE corporate’s Sales and Project Finance team, which assisted the customer in arranging for financing solutions.
“Our ability to integrate crucial product, engineering and marketing resources from across GE’s business portfolio allows us to provide our customers with tailored, one-stop solutions,” Oprzadek said.
KWE, an authorized distributor and service provider of GE’s Jenbacher gas engines, supplied the two containerized CHP ECOMAXTM units to the Konopnica site and will provide service and support via a complete service agreement. KWE is a subsidiary of Gruppo AB, a major supplier of modular CHP solution in Europe. In 2011, GE and Gruppo AB announced a three-year agreement to collaborate on agricultural CHP projects throughout Europe.
GE's Jenbacher J320 biogas engines are part of GE’s ecomagination portfolio. To qualify for the ecomagination portfolio, products and services must demonstrate both improved economic value and environmental performance. Ecomagination is GE's commitment to innovative solutions that maximize resources and efficiencies and make the world work better.
GE’s portfolio of innovative distributed power solutions gives businesses and communities around the world the ability to generate reliable and efficient power using a variety of fuels anywhere, whether on or off the grid. GE’s distributed power solutions gives customers of all types—including industrial businesses, developing communities, government agencies managing disaster relief and other emergency power situations—the ability to generate reliable, sustainable power whenever and wherever it is needed. GE’s distributed power portfolio includes GE aeroderivative gas turbines, Jenbacher and Waukesha gas engines and waste heat recovery solutions.
The Bioenergy Project start-up comes two days after a GE-sponsored event celebrating 20 years of GE’s presence in Poland. The event, which took place in Warsaw, was attended by GE executives and Polish dignitaries as well as Lee Feinstein, U.S. ambassador to Poland.
About GE
GE (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter. The best people and the best technologies taking on the toughest challenges. Finding solutions in energy, health and home, transportation and finance. Building, powering, moving and curing the world. Not just imagining. Doing. GE works. For more information, visit the company's website at www.ge.com.
About GE Power & Water
GE Power & Water provides customers with a broad array of power generation, energy delivery and water process technologies to solve their challenges locally. Power & Water works in all areas of the energy industry including renewable resources such as wind and solar; biogas and alternative fuels; and coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy. The business also develops advanced technologies to help solve the world’s most complex challenges related to water availability and quality. Numerous products are qualified under ecomagination, GE’s commitment to providing innovative solutions that maximize resources, drive efficiencies and help make the world work better. Power & Water’s seven business units include Aeroderivative Gas Turbines; Gas Engines; Nuclear Energy; Power Generation Services; Renewable Energy; Thermal Products and Water & Process Technologies. Headquartered in Schenectady, N.Y., Power & Water is GE’s largest industrial business.
Follow GE Power & Water on Twitter @GE_PowerWater.
The two Jenbacher J320 units generate reliable electrical and thermal power, with an electrical efficiency of 40.8 percent and total efficiency of 86.6 percent. In the near future, the installation will be connected to the local district heating network for businesses and residents in Rawa Mazowiecka. CHP technologies are inherently more energy efficient than separate electrical and thermal power systems.
The plant, which is located in the village of Konopnica, utilizes an innovative “dry fermentation” biogas production technology provided by F&M GmbH. This system converts local agricultural products into a renewable biogas that is used as fuel in GE’s Jenbacher biogas modules.
Poland is supporting the development of new biogas power projects as a key part of its “Energy Policy 2030” strategy to diversify its energy supplies.
“Our new agricultural biogas power plant project will stimulate our local economy as farmers in the area are given the opportunity to supply the agricultural products needed as raw feedstock for the biogas plant,” said Zofia Ossowska, general director of Bioenergy Project sp. z o.o. “Ourproject reflects the Polish government’s commitment to encourage investments in biogas plants.”
“The Bioenergy Project agricultural biogas plant in Konopnica demonstrates how our Jenbacher cogeneration technology is ideally suited to help Poland and other European countries to develop a cleaner, low-emission, distributed energy generation infrastructure to achieve greater energy efficiency and security while also reducing the environmental impacts of energy production,” said Michal Oprzadek, regional sales leader, Central & Eastern Europe, Russia and CIS—Gas Engines for GE Power & Water. “Our Jenbacher gas engines offer the fuel flexibility needed to accommodate natural gas or alternative fuels such as biogas while offering the industry’s highest levels of reliability and availability.”
The Bioenergy Project also serves as another example of cross-business cooperation between GE Power & Water and GE corporate’s Sales and Project Finance team, which assisted the customer in arranging for financing solutions.
“Our ability to integrate crucial product, engineering and marketing resources from across GE’s business portfolio allows us to provide our customers with tailored, one-stop solutions,” Oprzadek said.
KWE, an authorized distributor and service provider of GE’s Jenbacher gas engines, supplied the two containerized CHP ECOMAXTM units to the Konopnica site and will provide service and support via a complete service agreement. KWE is a subsidiary of Gruppo AB, a major supplier of modular CHP solution in Europe. In 2011, GE and Gruppo AB announced a three-year agreement to collaborate on agricultural CHP projects throughout Europe.
GE's Jenbacher J320 biogas engines are part of GE’s ecomagination portfolio. To qualify for the ecomagination portfolio, products and services must demonstrate both improved economic value and environmental performance. Ecomagination is GE's commitment to innovative solutions that maximize resources and efficiencies and make the world work better.
GE’s portfolio of innovative distributed power solutions gives businesses and communities around the world the ability to generate reliable and efficient power using a variety of fuels anywhere, whether on or off the grid. GE’s distributed power solutions gives customers of all types—including industrial businesses, developing communities, government agencies managing disaster relief and other emergency power situations—the ability to generate reliable, sustainable power whenever and wherever it is needed. GE’s distributed power portfolio includes GE aeroderivative gas turbines, Jenbacher and Waukesha gas engines and waste heat recovery solutions.
The Bioenergy Project start-up comes two days after a GE-sponsored event celebrating 20 years of GE’s presence in Poland. The event, which took place in Warsaw, was attended by GE executives and Polish dignitaries as well as Lee Feinstein, U.S. ambassador to Poland.
About GE
GE (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter. The best people and the best technologies taking on the toughest challenges. Finding solutions in energy, health and home, transportation and finance. Building, powering, moving and curing the world. Not just imagining. Doing. GE works. For more information, visit the company's website at www.ge.com.
About GE Power & Water
GE Power & Water provides customers with a broad array of power generation, energy delivery and water process technologies to solve their challenges locally. Power & Water works in all areas of the energy industry including renewable resources such as wind and solar; biogas and alternative fuels; and coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy. The business also develops advanced technologies to help solve the world’s most complex challenges related to water availability and quality. Numerous products are qualified under ecomagination, GE’s commitment to providing innovative solutions that maximize resources, drive efficiencies and help make the world work better. Power & Water’s seven business units include Aeroderivative Gas Turbines; Gas Engines; Nuclear Energy; Power Generation Services; Renewable Energy; Thermal Products and Water & Process Technologies. Headquartered in Schenectady, N.Y., Power & Water is GE’s largest industrial business.
Follow GE Power & Water on Twitter @GE_PowerWater.
Glut of Solar Panels Is a New Test for China
The following is an excerpt from an article in:
The New York Times
Friday, October 05, 2012
Glut of Solar Panels Is a New Test for China
By KEITH BRADSHER
BEIJING — China in recent years established global dominance in renewable energy, its solar panel and wind turbine factories forcing many foreign rivals out of business and its policy makers hailed by environmentalists around the world as visionaries.
But now China’s strategy is in disarray. Though worldwide demand for solar panels and wind turbines has grown rapidly over the last five years, China’s manufacturing capacity has soared even faster, creating enormous oversupply and a ferocious price war.
The result is a looming financial disaster, not only for manufacturers but for state-owned banks that financed factories with approximately $18 billion in low-rate loans and for municipal and provincial governments that provided loan guarantees and sold manufacturers valuable land at deeply discounted prices.
China’s biggest solar panel makers are suffering losses of up to $1 for every $3 of sales this year, as panel prices have fallen by three-fourths since 2008. Even though the cost of solar power has fallen, it still remains triple the price of coal-generated power in China, requiring substantial subsidies through a tax imposed on industrial users of electricity to cover the higher cost of renewable energy.
The outcome has left even the architects of China’s renewable energy strategy feeling frustrated and eager to see many businesses shut down, so the most efficient companies may be salvageable financially.
In the solar panel sector, “If one-third of them survive, that’s good, and two-thirds of them die, but we don’t know how that happens,” said Li Junfeng, a longtime director general for energy and climate policy at the National Development and Reform Commission, the country’s top economic planning agency.
Mr. Li said in an interview that he wanted banks to cut off loans to all but the strongest solar panel companies and let the rest go bankrupt. But banks — which were encouraged by Beijing to make the loans — are not eager to acknowledge that the loans are bad and take large write-offs, preferring to lend more money to allow the repayment of previous loans. Many local and provincial governments also are determined to keep their hometown favorites afloat to avoid job losses and to avoid making payments on loan guarantees, he said.
The New York Times
Friday, October 05, 2012
Glut of Solar Panels Is a New Test for China
By KEITH BRADSHER
BEIJING — China in recent years established global dominance in renewable energy, its solar panel and wind turbine factories forcing many foreign rivals out of business and its policy makers hailed by environmentalists around the world as visionaries.
But now China’s strategy is in disarray. Though worldwide demand for solar panels and wind turbines has grown rapidly over the last five years, China’s manufacturing capacity has soared even faster, creating enormous oversupply and a ferocious price war.
The result is a looming financial disaster, not only for manufacturers but for state-owned banks that financed factories with approximately $18 billion in low-rate loans and for municipal and provincial governments that provided loan guarantees and sold manufacturers valuable land at deeply discounted prices.
China’s biggest solar panel makers are suffering losses of up to $1 for every $3 of sales this year, as panel prices have fallen by three-fourths since 2008. Even though the cost of solar power has fallen, it still remains triple the price of coal-generated power in China, requiring substantial subsidies through a tax imposed on industrial users of electricity to cover the higher cost of renewable energy.
The outcome has left even the architects of China’s renewable energy strategy feeling frustrated and eager to see many businesses shut down, so the most efficient companies may be salvageable financially.
In the solar panel sector, “If one-third of them survive, that’s good, and two-thirds of them die, but we don’t know how that happens,” said Li Junfeng, a longtime director general for energy and climate policy at the National Development and Reform Commission, the country’s top economic planning agency.
Mr. Li said in an interview that he wanted banks to cut off loans to all but the strongest solar panel companies and let the rest go bankrupt. But banks — which were encouraged by Beijing to make the loans — are not eager to acknowledge that the loans are bad and take large write-offs, preferring to lend more money to allow the repayment of previous loans. Many local and provincial governments also are determined to keep their hometown favorites afloat to avoid job losses and to avoid making payments on loan guarantees, he said.
For more, visit www.nytimes.com.
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Report Calls on Organizations to Take a More Energy-Aware Approach to Decision-Making
Press Releases
Report Calls on Organizations to Take a More Energy-Aware Approach to Decision-Making
Independent Advisory Report Commissioned by CA Technologies Outlines Management Imperatives for IT-Related Energy Use
ISLANDIA, N.Y., October 4, 2012 – CA Technologies (NASDAQ: CA) today announced the availability of a new independent advisory report which identifies five imperatives for efficient data center energy management and the significant role that Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) solutions can play in helping organizations address these imperatives.
The report calls on organizations to take a more energy-aware approach to IT decision-making by proactively managing energy consumption, which will become increasingly important given price fluctuations, potential caps on availability and government incentives to encourage responsible energy use.
Commissioned by CA Technologies and produced independently by industry analyst firm Freeform Dynamics, the report says energy management is often lacking in the context of IT. Factors contributing to this inadequate energy management include poor visibility into energy use, unclear management ownership of energy-related issues, inefficient or poorly utilized IT equipment and over-stretched capacity. Among other things, it recommends that organizations deploy solutions such as DCIM to better understand energy consumption and use, reduce costs, improve service levels and respond more quickly to change.
According to the report, entitled “Energy Aware Planning and Decision Making,” the five imperatives for efficient data center energy management are:
• Acquire visibility: Asset management is a pre-requisite for proactive energy management. Asset discovery solutions and CMDBs can be combined with application and service portfolio management and with DCIM tools which overlay energy consumption information, together forming a body of intelligence and insight that facilitates energy aware decision-making.
• Assign responsibility: Effective management of IT-related energy consumption and risk relies on accountability: both for costs (who pays) and cost management. This is increasingly important as IT needs are met through a combination of external ‘shared’ services and internal infrastructure.
• Rationalize applications: When multiple facilities, software systems or physical assets exist that provide the same or very similar capabilities, there is a clear opportunity to consolidate. Such activities can often lead to a significant reduction in energy consumption, as well as other costs.
• Optimize the infrastructure: Maturing technologies such as virtualization and private cloud computing allow resources to be allocated in a highly flexible way as demands change over time, with a further boost to utilization, which in turn optimizes energy use.
• Manage dynamically: In any IT environment, demands are frequently changing, and it is a failure to keep up with this change that often leads to redundancy and waste. The answer is to put in place processes and tools that allow everything to be managed holistically from top to bottom on a continuous basis.
“Data centers are increasingly challenged by limitations in power, space and cooling—which can hinder the ability to deliver on new business requirements and lead to higher operating costs,” said Terrence Clark, general manager, Energy and Sustainability solutions, CA Technologies. “By capturing detailed real-time information about energy use across the data center, solutions such as CA DCIM can help organizations address their energy challenges by making better use of available capacity, reducing waste, and empowering data center managers to make more informed decisions about how to best deploy additional infrastructure.”
For a copy of the report, please visit https://www.ca.com/EnergyPlanning.
About Freeform Dynamics
Freeform Dynamics is a research and analysis firm, which tracks and reports on the business impact of developments in the IT and communications sectors. The company uses an innovative research methodology to gather feedback directly from those involved in IT strategy, planning, procurement and implementation. The output is therefore grounded in real-world practicality for use by mainstream IT professionals. For further information or to subscribe to the Freeform Dynamics free research service, please visit www.freeformdynamics.com.
About CA Technologies
CA Technologies (NASDAQ: CA) provides IT management solutions that help customers manage and secure complex IT environments to support agile business services. Organizations leverage CA Technologies software and SaaS solutions to accelerate innovation, transform infrastructure and secure data and identities, from the data center to the cloud. Learn more about CA Technologies at www.ca.com.
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Legal Notices
Copyright © 2012 CA. All Rights Reserved. One CA Plaza, Islandia, N.Y. 11749. All other trademarks, trade names, service marks, and logos referenced herein belong to their respective companies.
Public Storage Expects to Pack Away up to $1.9 Million in Annual Energy and Maintenance Savings with GE LED Lighting
Press release:
04 October 2012
04 October 2012
Public Storage Expects to Pack Away up to $1.9 Million in Annual Energy and Maintenance Savings with GE LED Lighting
EAST CLEVELAND, Ohio — October 4, 2012 — (NYSE: GE) — Public Storage, the world’s largest owner and operator of self-storage facilities, is expected to save up to $1.9 million in lighting costs annually after changing the way it illuminates its exterior signage. The company recently began replacing existing T12HO fluorescent lamps with GE Lighting’s LED sign lighting solutions at its more than 2,000 locations. Its bright orange and purple box signs and pole signs help the company stand out, but with as many as eight signs at each property, electricity and maintenance costs quickly add up.
“Each property is unique. We have multiple buildings at each location that can be single-story or multi-story buildings, which has made it difficult to standardize lighting and has led to varied repair and maintenance costs throughout our portfolio,” said Robbie Williams, vice president of facilities for Public Storage. “A third party maintains our LED signage lighting, which costs up to $1,000 per year per location including energy and upkeep. We really needed to standardize lighting and maintain information in one database while reducing our costs.”
Public Storage initially considered switching to T8 fluorescent lamps, but chose to focus on LED sign lighting technology as pricing has become more competitive and light quality has improved. After meeting with several manufacturers and reviewing data on a number of LED products, Public Storage chose GE Tetra® PowerStrip LED sign lighting to replace the T12 fluorescent tubes in its single-sided and double-sided box signs at each of its more than 2,000 properties.
In it for the long haul“We’ve had previous experience with other LED manufacturers, and a lot are now out of business. We wanted a stable company that would be here to be a partner for the longer term. GE Lighting is a pioneer in the industry and has an excellent reputation with quality, reliable LED systems,” said Williams.
Approximately 150 locations will be retrofitted this year with all properties completed in the next three to five years. Each property is expected to reduce sign lighting energy consumption by 73 percent, saving an average of $799 per property over five years (based on a $.11 kWh electricity rate and 10 hours of use per day).
Less maintenance, more savingsWith a 50,000-hour life rating—or the equivalent of more than 13 years at 10 hours of use per day—Williams anticipates even larger savings to come from reduced maintenance costs. She said the average lifespan for signage bulbs today is approximately three years, but that can vary by location because there hasn’t been a single lighting standard to date. At an average cost of $500 to $800 per year for maintenance, Public Storage has the potential to save between $1 and $1.6 million in annual maintenance costs.
“We now have one spec with GE Tetra PowerStrip so we will have standardized signage lighting across all locations and the ability to track warranties. When combined with long life and quality construction, we will greatly lower ongoing maintenance costs and maintain brand consistency by minimizing sign outages,” added Williams.
The GE Tetra PowerStrip LED sign lighting system also offers easy installation through a low-voltage rail system that does not require the construction of sockets for mounting. The system can be cut for easy installation in retrofit signs of any size. The system delivers improved visual performance through OptiLens™ – a patented optical lens technology that helps spread light across a wide viewing angle for uniform light distribution across the entire sign face.
Visit www.gelighting.com to learn more about LED and other energy-saving lighting technologies from GE. As well:
- To read more about Public Storage, please visitwww.gelighting.com/LightingWeb/na/case-studies/public-storage.jsp
- To read other GE Lighting case studies, please visit:http://www.gelighting.com/LightingWeb/na/case-studies/
- To receive GE Lighting newsletters, sign up at:http://www.gelighting.com/LightingWeb/na/contact-us/
- For more information on GE’s Tetra PowerStrip LED sign lighting products, click here: http://www.gelightingsolutions.com/products--solutions/signage-led-lighting
About Public StoragePublic Storage, a member of the S&P 500 and FT Global 500, is a fully integrated, self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust that primarily acquires, develops, owns and operates self-storage facilities. The Company’s headquarters are located in Glendale, California. As of June 30, 2012, the Company had interests in 2,068 self-storage facilities located in 38 states with approximately 132 million net rentable square feet in the United States and 189 storage facilities located in seven Western European nations with approximately ten million net rentable square feet operated under the “Shurgard” brand. The Company also owns a 42% common equity interest in PS Business Parks, Inc. (NYSE:PSB) which owned and operated approximately 28.2 million rentable square feet of commercial space, primarily flex, multi-tenant office and industrial space, as of August 31, 2012.
About GE Lighting
GE Lighting invents with the vigor of its founder Thomas Edison to develop energy-efficient solutions that change the way people light their world in commercial, industrial, municipal and residential settings. The business employs over 16,000 people in more than 100 countries, and sells products under the Reveal® and Energy Smart® consumer brands, and Evolve™, GTx™, Immersion™, Infusion™, Lumination™ and Tetra® commercial brands, all trademarks of GE. General Electric (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter to build a world that works better. For more information, visitwww.gelighting.com.
GE Lighting invents with the vigor of its founder Thomas Edison to develop energy-efficient solutions that change the way people light their world in commercial, industrial, municipal and residential settings. The business employs over 16,000 people in more than 100 countries, and sells products under the Reveal® and Energy Smart® consumer brands, and Evolve™, GTx™, Immersion™, Infusion™, Lumination™ and Tetra® commercial brands, all trademarks of GE. General Electric (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter to build a world that works better. For more information, visitwww.gelighting.com.
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Agreement will lead to commercialization of batteries for renewable energy storage
Press release from the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory:
RICHLAND, Wash. – A Washington state firm with a 27,000 square feet manufacturing and design facility in Mukilteo has signed a license agreement with Battelle to further develop and commercialize a type of advanced battery that holds promise for storing large amounts of renewable energy and providing greater stability to the energy grid.
The agreement with UniEnergy Technologies LLC is intended to advance and commercialize "redox flow" battery technology.
Developing a technology that can smoothly integrate energy from variable and intermittent sources — such as wind and solar power — onto the electricity grid while maintaining grid stability has proven challenging. First developed in the 1970s, redox flow batteries are one type of storage technology that has shown the ability to meet this challenge. But until now, these batteries have been limited in their ability to work well in a wide range of temperatures, their relatively high cost, and their limited ability to store energy, otherwise known as energy density.
Recently however, with funding from the Energy Department's Office of Electricity Delivery & Energy Reliability, researchers at DOE's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have made significant progress in improving the performance of redox flow technology.
Redox flow batteries are a type of rechargeable battery that stores electrical energy in two tanks of electrolytes, which are then pumped through a reactor to produce energy. The PNNL-developed vanadium electrolytes incorporate two novel approaches to overcome the limitations of previous generations of redox flow batteries. The result is a dramatically improved operating range, higher energy density and lower cost for vanadium redox flow batteries.
The licensing agreement with UniEnergy will lead to enhanced commercial products for utilities, power generators and industry that will enable the energy grid to operate more reliably and efficiently, with better integration of renewable resources, such as energy produced by wind and the sun.
"The redox flow battery is well-suited for storing intermittent, renewable energy on the electricity grid. The technology can help balance supply and demand, prevent disruptions and meet the grid's varying load requirements," said Imre Gyuk, energy storage program manager at DOE's Office of Electricity Delivery & Energy Reliability in Washington, D.C.
"Redox flow batteries can also help utilities during times of peak demand on the grid, providing additional power when it is needed," he added. "Successful commercialization of DOE-sponsored technology development, such as this, is vital for creating the grid of the future, and sustaining U.S. leadership in advanced technology."
About UniEnergy Technologies LLC
UniEnergy Technologies, Inc., or UET, is a privately-held clean energy company, founded in Washington state and based in Mukilteo, Wash. UET's founders are President Gary Yang, and Chief Technology Officer Liyu Li, both experts in energy storage technologies. UET's mission is to scale up and commercialize new generation redox flow batteries and other advanced electricity storage technologies through wide collaboration with partners that include leading industries, associations and research institutions in related fields as well as government bodies.
About Battelle and PNNL
Agreement will lead to commercialization of batteries for renewable energy storage
October 02, 2012
- Greg Koller, PNNL, (509) 372-4864
- Russ Weed, UniEnergy, (206) 851-1653
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Image
PNNL researchers have recently made significant
progress in improving the performance of redox flow batteries, which hold
promise for storing large amounts of renewable energy and providing greater
stability to the energy grid. A license agreement will allow UniEnergy
Technologies LLC of Mukilteo, Wash., to further develop and commercialize the
battery technology.
|
RICHLAND, Wash. – A Washington state firm with a 27,000 square feet manufacturing and design facility in Mukilteo has signed a license agreement with Battelle to further develop and commercialize a type of advanced battery that holds promise for storing large amounts of renewable energy and providing greater stability to the energy grid.
The agreement with UniEnergy Technologies LLC is intended to advance and commercialize "redox flow" battery technology.
Developing a technology that can smoothly integrate energy from variable and intermittent sources — such as wind and solar power — onto the electricity grid while maintaining grid stability has proven challenging. First developed in the 1970s, redox flow batteries are one type of storage technology that has shown the ability to meet this challenge. But until now, these batteries have been limited in their ability to work well in a wide range of temperatures, their relatively high cost, and their limited ability to store energy, otherwise known as energy density.
Recently however, with funding from the Energy Department's Office of Electricity Delivery & Energy Reliability, researchers at DOE's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have made significant progress in improving the performance of redox flow technology.
Redox flow batteries are a type of rechargeable battery that stores electrical energy in two tanks of electrolytes, which are then pumped through a reactor to produce energy. The PNNL-developed vanadium electrolytes incorporate two novel approaches to overcome the limitations of previous generations of redox flow batteries. The result is a dramatically improved operating range, higher energy density and lower cost for vanadium redox flow batteries.
The licensing agreement with UniEnergy will lead to enhanced commercial products for utilities, power generators and industry that will enable the energy grid to operate more reliably and efficiently, with better integration of renewable resources, such as energy produced by wind and the sun.
"The redox flow battery is well-suited for storing intermittent, renewable energy on the electricity grid. The technology can help balance supply and demand, prevent disruptions and meet the grid's varying load requirements," said Imre Gyuk, energy storage program manager at DOE's Office of Electricity Delivery & Energy Reliability in Washington, D.C.
"Redox flow batteries can also help utilities during times of peak demand on the grid, providing additional power when it is needed," he added. "Successful commercialization of DOE-sponsored technology development, such as this, is vital for creating the grid of the future, and sustaining U.S. leadership in advanced technology."
About UniEnergy Technologies LLC
UniEnergy Technologies, Inc., or UET, is a privately-held clean energy company, founded in Washington state and based in Mukilteo, Wash. UET's founders are President Gary Yang, and Chief Technology Officer Liyu Li, both experts in energy storage technologies. UET's mission is to scale up and commercialize new generation redox flow batteries and other advanced electricity storage technologies through wide collaboration with partners that include leading industries, associations and research institutions in related fields as well as government bodies.
About Battelle and PNNL
Interdisciplinary teams at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory address many of America's
most pressing issues in energy, the environment and national security through
advances in basic and applied science. PNNL employs 4,600 staff, has an annual
budget of nearly $1 billion, and has been managed for the U.S. Department of
Energy by Ohio-based Battelle since the laboratory's inception in 1965.
For more, visit the PNNL's News Center, or
follow PNNL on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.
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