A123Systems, a
developer and manufacturer of advanced Nanophosphate™ lithium-ion batteries
and battery systems, announced the delivery and installation of its first Hybrid
Ancillary Power Units (H-APU) with AES Energy Storage, LLC, a subsidiary of
The AES Corporation (NYSE: AES), one of the world's largest global power
companies. The H-APU is designed to create another way for AES' existing
facilities to meet the power industry's need for capacity, by supplying
power plant reserve requirements and other ancillary services which enable the
increasing use of renewable energy sources.
A123 is under contract to provide multiple Hybrid Ancillary Power Units in
2008 and 2009 for use in grid stabilization applications in several AES facilities
across the world. The initial unit, installed at one of AES's Southern
California power plants, is capable of delivering 2 MW of power at close to
90% efficiency.
“We believe A123's H-APU product line addresses the demanding performance
requirements of grid stabilization and offers an innovative solution for the
utility industry. When fully deployed in 2009, we believe this will be the largest
fleet of battery storage systems in operation on the electric grid,” said
Dave Vieau, Chief Executive Officer of A123 Systems.
The Hybrid Ancillary Power Unit energy storage system can serve two functions.
First, A123's H-APU will absorb (charge) energy from the grid during times
when the frequency or voltage is too high and inject (discharge) that energy
back to the grid when it is too low. A123's H-APU is expected to allow
greater use of variable sources of energy such as wind and solar by rapidly
absorbing or injecting energy as these sources vary. The H-APU is expected to
provide variable service much faster than existing power plants responding in
seconds rather than minutes. And, because it is recycling energy already in
the system, it will provide these services without unnecessary emissions.
Second, the Hybrid Ancillary Power Units are designed to provide backup services
by storing energy until it is needed by the grid in the event of a power plant
or other asset failure. In some markets, the portion of thermal power plant
capacity normally reserved for ancillary services to provide reserve capacity
and frequency regulation services can be freed up to operate at a higher capacity
and produce more electricity and associated revenue.
"We believe fast-responding, high-efficiency energy storage systems, such
as A123's H-APU, will make power systems more efficient and responsive.
This technology gives Independent System Operators' (ISOs) a powerful
new tool to balance varying load with the increasingly varying supply created
by renewable sources. They also create an efficient, low-cost way for plants
to meet reserve requirements,” said Chris Shelton, President of AES Energy
Storage, LLC.
AES is working with industry leaders to selectively deploy energy storage solutions
to improve the capacity, responsiveness, and efficiency of its existing thermal,
renewable, and distribution facilities. As one of the world's largest
global power companies, with operations in 29 countries, AES is comprised of
a platform of more than 120 power facilities and 12 million distribution customers.
Pending final approvals, the H-APU will be used to provide ancillary services
for the California power market. For more information on the A123 offering for
utilities, visit www.a123systems.com.
Posted November 20th, 2008