Energy Storage

Sharp Electronics Corporation's Energy Systems and Services Group announced today that its behind-the-meter SmartStorage energy storage solution was selected to be installed at ILM Tool's 25,000-square-foot machine shop to help offset its growing peak demand usage.

Nissan Motor Co. Ltd announced it has entered into a definitive agreement with Envision Group for the sale of Nissan's electric battery operations and production facilities to Envision.

Sodium-ion batteries have potential to replace the currently used lithium-ion batteries by using the cheaper (less than a thirtieth of the cost of lithium) and more abundant sodium resource. This has particular potential in Saudi Arabia, where sodium is readily available and easily extracted as a byproduct of water desalination, a significant source of potable water in the country.

Cleantech Hub reports that a mere 13% of lead acid batteries are recycled in Nigeria. Yet there is a mini-grid revolution about to take off in Nigeria, such as the World Bank and the Rural Electrification Agency $350 million project as well as other investments into the sector, driving more batteries.

Connected Energy uses second-life electric vehicle batteries to build commercial & industrial as well as grid-level energy storage systems. IDTechEx Technology Analyst Dr Na Jiao and Mr Franco Gonzalez visited their Technical Centre and interviewed the CEO of Connected Energy.

Nidec Industrial Solutions has, for the fifth consecutive year, confirmed its standing as the world's leading supplier in the energy storage market.

The University of Adelaide's newest Ramsay Fellow, Dr James Quach, will harness the unique properties of quantum mechanics with the aim of building the world's first quantum battery, a new super battery with the potential for instantaneous charging.

A new combination of materials may aid in developing a rechargeable battery able to store the large amounts of renewable power created through wind or solar sources. With further development, the new technology could deliver energy to the electric grid quickly, cost effectively and at normal ambient temperatures.

Chinese scientists have developed flexible micro-batteries with high energy density and steady performance under extraordinary high-temperature.

Batteries from Blue Spark Technologies are being used in sensor based and battery assisted passive (BAP) RFID labels, in addition to powered cosmetic patches. Recent innovations include a new printed zinc anode.

Gencell Energy (Gencell) is an Israeli company developing fuel cell systems for continuous off-grid power. They are looking to overcome many of the challenges of hydrogen as a fuel through the use of ammonia. 2018 has seen something of a resurgence of industrial interest in fuel cell systems, IDTechEx spoke with Gencell CEO Rami Reshef to understand the company's position in more detail.

AUDI AG and Hyundai Motor Group are driving the development of fuel cell technology. The two companies plan to cross-license patents and grant access to non-competitive components.

Volta Energy Technologies is investing in Conamix, a technology startup based in Ithaca, New York. Conamix has developed a breakthrough material and process for creating low-cost, high-energy, and cobalt-free electrode materials for lithium-based batteries.

A new form of solar-powered supercapacitor could help make future wearable technologies lighter and more energy-efficient, scientists say.‌

A lightweight, compact and efficient supercapacitor printed on a flexible plastic sheet has been developed by researchers.

Fuji Electric are a Japanese company has a wide range of products and solutions for different electrical applications

GeneSiC is a company that has been working on SiC (silicon carbide) power and silicon high power devices for approaching 14 years

EPC (Efficient Power Conversion) is an American company, set up by Alex Lidow, who has an extensive background in transistors and was the co-inventor of the silicon MOSFET in the 1970s.

Littelfuse is a Chicago based multinational electronic manufacturing company.

GaN Systems is a semiconductor company developing wide bandgap semiconductor devices using Gallium Nitride (GaN).