International Battery Chosen by S&C for First Community Energy Storage System
International Battery, a U.S. manufacturer and developer of large-format lithium-ion rechargeable batteries, announced that it has been chosen as the battery system provider for the first-of-its-kind Community Energy Storage (CES) systems, developed by S&C Electric Company for American Electric Power (AEP).
Community Energy Storage is a concept for distributed energy storage initiated by AEP. The intent is to provide the utility and its customers many benefits, including load leveling, back-up power, support for plug-in electric car deployment as well as grid regulation and improved distribution line efficiencies. As more renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, are integrated into the smart grid, managing and storing energy is essential due to the intermittent nature of these power sources.
AEP Ohio’s gridSMART&supSM; Demonstration Project, funded in part by $75 million Department of Energy (DOE) stimulus funding, will be deployed to 110,000 AEP Ohio customers in northeast central Ohio. The project will integrate a broad range of advanced technologies in the distribution grid, utility back office, and consumer premises with innovative consumer programs in order to demonstrate the many benefits of a smart grid for consumers and the utility. CES holds the promise of being an integral component of the smart grid.
"The Community Energy Storage product is a perfect fit for our large format prismatic lithium ion technology," said International Battery’s president and CEO, Dr. Ake Almgren. "We are excited about the opportunity to work with S&C and AEP to advance Community Energy Storage from concept to a viable product."
"The requirements for CES are very demanding. After carefully evaluating leading battery manufacturers, we chose International Battery for the next step in this project because of the system advantages offered by large format cells, their system engineering design capabilities and proven reliability," said Jim Sember, Vice President of S&C’s Power Quality Products Division. "These energy storage systems will need to be very robust and dependable. We believe that together with International Battery, we can design and deliver a product that meets CES requirements."
