ILA member conducts crucial research into utility energy storage

The Consortium for Battery Innovation (CBI), Hammond Group Inc. and East Penn Manufacturing have teamed up study the electrode components in lead batteries and explore how they impact performance needs.

From North America and Europe to Asia, advanced lead batteries are being used by utilities to provide critical energy storage needs. This crucial research will underpin advances in lead batteries for energy storage One of the key ways lead battery performance has been enhanced is through the use of expander additives in the electrode, such as barium sulfate. Hammond and East Penn’s research will explore how the additive size, treatment and morphology can be adapted to benefit duty cycles in a typical energy storage system.

Dr. Matt Raiford, Technical Manager at CBI, said: “This exciting research will be critical to increasing the cycle life of batteries developed to match those commonly used in energy storage systems. By studying the impact of different barium sulfate expander additives on electrode behaviour, new insights will be delivered into maximising the performance of energy storage lead batteries.

“This will be critical for the expansion of lead battery uptake by utilities and renewable energy companies across the globe looking to add battery storage to their systems.”

Enqin Gao, Chief Engineer of R&D, observes the voltages of battery cells during the PSoC Cycling test in Hammond Group’s state-of-the-art lead battery lab.