The project, which won a $300,000 grant from the states Solar Energy Program, was the only one of over a dozen funded projects to focus on energy storage rather than generation.
“We see fairly high growth in the renewable sector. Theres a need for storage,” says Dick Rosey, director of marketing for Axion. The batteries would store renewably-generated energy for delivery during peak demand hours. Lead acid batteries offer two advantages: “high rate charge acceptance and good life cycle cost.”
The grant will be used primarily to purchase the power conditioner equipment for the power cube from Eaton corporation. Another $248,650 state grant from the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority, delivered through Duquesne Lights Sustainable Energy Fund, will allow Axion to collaborate on a solar system from California-based Envision Solar. The partnership is a first, says Rosey, who says Axion is “actively discussing other projects with the firm.
Rosey says the system should be operational by the end of the second quarter.
Source: Dick Rosey, Axion Power International
Writer: Chris OToole