Organization Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
Title Liquid Air Energy Storage for Intermittent Renewable Energy Utilization
Website http://www.airproducts.com/index.asp
Point of Contact Dr. Fritz Walker
Phone 610-481-6853
Email walkerfh@airproducts.com
Date Added 1/5/2011

Air Products, a leading global provider of industrial gases, is developing a versatile, large-scale, location independent energy storage system that can improve the grid’s capacity utilization and reliability, and provide the flexibility to reliably integrate an increasing amount of variable wind and solar power generation. The Air Products’ liquid air energy storage (LAES) system employs proven cryogenic processes that use liquid air as the energy storage medium. Storing energy in the form of liquid air increases the energy density up to five times as compared with compressed air energy storage technologies, thus greatly increasing the siting flexibility of our system. Air Products’ LAES can store up to 100MW with a discharge time of up to 12 hours in a single system, and more in a modular configuration. By using waste heat (e.g. from the exhaust of a new or existing simple cycle gas turbine), the system can achieve high energy storage efficiencies (75% to 85%). Given flexibility in location and high efficiency, Air Products’ energy storage system can provide cost-effective services that power generators, T&D companies and grid operators can readily use.

Organization Amprius
Title Doubling the Energy Density of Lithium-Ion Batteries
Website www.amprius.com
Point of Contact John Honchariw
Phone
Email John@Amprius.com
Date Added 1/5/2011

Amprius, in collaboration with our R&D partners, will integrate emerging advances in materials science and nanomanufacturing to develop a new generation of lithium-ion battery cells providing twice the energy capacity of today’s best commercially available alternatives. Our new cells will improve specific energy from 225 to 460 Wh/kg and volumetric energy density from 600 to 1,150 Wh/L. Amprius has demonstrated anode material stability exceeding 1000 cycles, and prototype batteries exceeding 250 cycles to 80% remaining capacity. Amprius’ materials currently exceed 1000mAh/g and 1000mAh/cm3 (3x and 2x that offered by state of the art carbon anodes, respectively). Amprius’ breakthrough silicon nanostructures are the leading technology for next generation lithium ion batteries. The technology was initially developed in Professor Yi Cui’s lab at Stanford University. In the last 18 months, Amprius has taken the technology beyond laboratory scale and taken a leading position in high energy density and specific energy materials development. Amprius is currently financed by VantagePoint Venture Partners, Trident Capital, Dr. Eric Schmidt, and Stanford University. In 2010, Amprius was awarded a $3M grant from NIST to support the development of high volume manufacturing technology in addition to an award from EPRI for cell testing.

Organization Ashlawn Energy
Title Novel Photo-Electro-Chemical Redox Flow Batteries (PEC-FB)
Website www.ashlawnenergy.com
Point of Contact Joseph F. Startari
Phone 703-461-3600
Email jstar@ashlawnenergy.com
Date Added 3/3/2011

Solar energy is the most abundant source of renewable energy on earth, but widespread application is limited by high cost and low efficiency, and its intermittent, variable nature. To mitigate variability on the electrical grid, and to make solar energy more dispatchable, various energy storage options have been considered. Currently energy storage technologies face challenges in cost, efficiency, and long-term reliability. This project proposes a revolutionary hybrid design incorporating solar energy conversion and storage into a single device. A strong collaborative team is headed up by Ashlawn Energy, LLC, a leading redox flow battery designer and manufacturer, V-Fuel and the University of New South Wales, a celebrated developer team of redox flow batteries chemistry and materials, GrafTech, the largest US manufacturer of graphite plates for hydrogen fuel cells and vanadium flow batteries, PNNL with extensive R&D experience in electrochemical energy storage, materials chemistry, and photochemistry, Innoventures a fuel cell stack and component supplier, Concurrent Technologies Corporation a prototype test bed and engineering group, and the Painesville Municipal Power Plant testing hardware using the resources established for a flow battery project currently underway for DOE. Hybrid solar energy conversion/storage technology creates transformational new energy technologies and systems to overcome the long-term and high-risk technological barriers in the development of energy technologies, enhancing the economic and energy security of the US by translating cutting-edge inventions into technological innovations. It also meets the mission of the Recovery Act to create 30-40 jobs nationwide; 15-20 in northeast Ohio.

Organization Battelle
Title Ultrastorage Devices for Large Scale Energy Generation Systems
Website energy.battelle.org
Point of Contact James H. Saunders
Phone 614-424-3271
Email jhs@battelle.org
Date Added 1/5/2011

Battelle’s Ultrastorage technology is a hybrid concept that combines the best features of batteries and capacitors with recent advances in electrochemistry, materials and controls to create a pathway for performance exceeding that of either batteries or capacitors. Batteries have sufficient energy density for many storage applications; however, their limited cycling lifetime and lower power density is a concern. Conventional carbon-based supercapacitors can have lifetimes exceeding one million cycles, but have low energy density leading to unreasonably large systems. Battelle’s technology builds upon our previous advances in high energy supercapacitors and hybridizes the battery and capacitor mechanisms onto common electrodes. Using low-cost manufacturing and synthesis techniques, and lower cost, abundant materials, Battelle will combine the supercapacitor double layer and pseudo-capacitance, and the reversible battery mechanism into one hybrid device to increase energy density, power density and lifetime, offering a wide range of charge and discharge rates. This approach replaces two devices, the battery and the capacitor, with one device that is hybridized at the electrode level to both reduce cost and increase performance. To maximize power and energy delivery with one device, Battelle is incorporating a model-based reaction control approach to charge the device in an optimal manner and extract the energy to optimally follow a load profile. This technology was recently developed at Battelle for fuel cells and the approach has been generalized to other electrochemical systems. Battelle seeks interested parties to help move this transformational technology to the marketplace.

Organization Boston University
Title Novel Large Scale Rapid Response Energy Storage and Electrical Energy Generation System
Website http://people.bu.edu/upal/
Point of Contact Uday Pal
Phone
Email upal@bu.edu
Date Added 1/5/2011

A cost-effective and innovative rapid response energy storage and recovery system for grid-scale application is proposed. The energy storage system, based on tungsten/ tungsten oxide, will be integrated with a reversible solid oxide electrochemical cell (RSOEC) stack. During the storage cycle, the stack will electrolyze steam using renewable or off-peak sources of electrical energy to produce hydrogen which will reduce the oxide to metal. During peak demand or to maintain base load conditions for renewable energy sources, it will operate as a fuel cell stack by using hydrogen generated from reducing steam with the metal and converting it back to oxide.

Organization Bright Energy Storage Technologies
Title Underwater Compressed Air Energy Storage
Website
Point of Contact Brian Von Herzen
Phone 775-790-5000
Email Brian@BrightES.com
Date Added 1/5/2011

Bright Energy stores compressed air in flexible polymer vessels on the seafloor or lake floor. Grid-connected surface equipment converts the stored energy to electricity, achieving system round trip efficiencies of up to 80%+. Bright Energy storage has lower capital and operating costs than alternative approaches (e.g., <$50/kWh capital costs). Bright Energy removes the geographic limitations of other energy storage approaches, enabling flexible siting near 90% of the world's electrical load.

Organization Cabot Corporation
Title Novel Materials and Manufacturing Techniques for Energy Storage
Website
Point of Contact Miodrag Oljaca
Phone 505-563-4412
Email miki_oljaca@cabot-corp.com
Date Added 1/5/2011

Next generation lithium ion and rechargeable metal air batteries have the potential to provide system level energy densities required for widespread deployment in all-electric vehicles and in grid storage applications. However, significant materials advancement is needed to improve performance, safety, life and cost of energy storage devices and enable commercialization and rapid adoption. Cabot Corporation is a US specialty chemicals company with extensive experience in carbons, metal oxides and other electrochemical materials. Commercial efforts are under way in several areas including conductive carbons for lithium ion batteries, carbon additives for cycle-tolerant and dynamic charge tolerant lead acid batteries, advanced carbons for supercapacitors and catalysts for fuel cells and metal air batteries. Cabot also has strong portfolio of manufacturing technologies that could provide significant performance improvement and cost saving at the battery system level. Development efforts with partners are focused on new technologies for production of next generation lithium ion active materials and novel carbons, ceramics and catalysts for metal air batteries.

Organization Clemson University
Title New membrane separators for vanadium flow batteries
Website www.clemson.edu
Point of Contact Stephen Creager
Phone 864-656-2319
Email screage@clemson.edu
Date Added 1/5/2011

This project will provide low-cost, high-performance ion-exchange polymer membrane separators for use in next generation vanadium redox flow batteries (VRBs) and also with other flow battery chemistries. These polymer electrolytes are based upon sulfonated perfluoro-cyclobutyl (S-PFCB) block copolymer structures currently under commercial development by Tetramer Technologies LLC, a Pendleton, SC-based start-up company, for use in hydrogen fuel cells targeted for automotive applications. The cost and performance gains of these membranes could be truly transformational for large-scale flow-battery-based electrochemical energy storage.

Organization Deeya Energy Inc
Title Grid-Scale Flow Battery Project
Website www.deeyaenergy.com
Point of Contact Maurice Evans
Phone 510-668-1485
Email maurice@deeyaenergy.com
Date Added 1/5/2011

Multi-hour grid-scale energy storage is often considered the Holy Grail of distributed energy storage systems. Flow batteries arguably hold the best potential to achieve significant performance, scalability and reliability targets at grid-scale when compared to its storage technology peers. Unlike other storage devices, flow batteries have the unique ability to scale power and energy capacity independently under the widest range of operating conditions, are fast-charging and have a virtually unlimited cycle life. Unfortunately, however, to date two significant barriers have prevented flow batteries from achieving parity for grid-scale applications: prohibitive stack costs – which govern power output – and excessive electrolyte costs – which determine energy capacity. This proposed research plan by Deeya Energy solves these two fundamental issues by using novel mesoscale-featured electrodes, a novel hybrid membrane, and a new method of electrolyte extraction directly from raw ores. These combined groundbreaking advances will dramatically alter the grid storage landscape. A 100kW, 50kWHr prototype is targeted with this new technology using Iron-Chromium chemistry pioneered by NASA & Deeya, to be followed up with a post-project advanced prototype of 500kW, 2MWh.

Organization EnerG2
Title Development of Rechargeable Lithium-Air Batteries for Transportation Applications
Website www.energ2.com
Point of Contact Aaron Feaver
Phone 206-679-2671
Email afeaver@energ2.com
Date Added 3/3/2011

EnerG2 develops carbon-based nanomaterials for energy storage applications. The ARPA-E proposal addressed the challenge of advanced carbon materials for lithium air cathodes. EnerG2 will develop a carbon framework with an optimized pore size distribution and surface chemistry that contains the ideal nanoscale bifunctional catalyst to facilitate the lithium oxygen reaction. However, this engineered lithium-air carbon is only an example of where EnerG2 is able to apply our patented carbon platform technology to accomplish electrode characteristics unattainable by other materials. EnerG2 can achieve a wide range of carbon properties such as pore size, pore volume, surface area, density and surface chemistry. EnerG2’s synthetic processing route enables an intrinsic material purity that is unattainable with other processes and that allows for strategic addition of other active materials such as ion intercalation materials and catalysts. EnerG2 is currently using this capability to produce ultracapacitor electrode materials and to enter the market for additives to lead acid batteries. The demands that are posed by new and evolving battery chemistries are best met by advancements in engineered materials and are of substantial interest to the company. EnerG2 will develop energy storage materials to address substantial market opportunities , such as presented by storage devices for automotive, industrial, and grid based applications.

Organization Energy Compression Inc.
Title Adsorption-Enhanced Compressed Air Energy Storage
Website
Point of Contact Timothy F. Havel
Phone 617-717-4945
Email tim@energycompression.com
Date Added 1/5/2011

Adsorption-Enhanced Compressed Air Energy Storage (AE-CAES) uses micro-porous materials to adsorb air. This greatly reduces the volume of the air storage tank needed at pressures much lower than those previously seen as practical for CAES. The low pressure & intrinsic safety of AE-CAES can greatly reduce the cost of surface CAES. Although much more heat must be moved around over the storage cycle than in conventional CAES, AE-CAES needs only heat at much lower temperatures. This allows it to use cost- and carbon-free waste or solar heat to make up for losses, rather than high-temperature heat from burning natural gas as in existing CAES systems.

Organization FC & Associates, Inc.
Title POM-Air Flow Battery for Utility-Scaled Energy Storage
Website www.flowcelltech.com
Point of Contact Leroy Ohlsen
Phone
Email lohlsen@flowcelltech.com
Date Added 1/5/2011

This project will prove the feasibility of FC&A’s unique flow battery technology, which combines the responsiveness of a battery with a fuel cell's capability to utilize a high-energy-density fuel for next-generation grid-scaled energy storage systems. FC&A's “Flow Cell” is based on novel electron-ferrying “redox” compounds known as polyoxometalates. FC&A's objective is to demonstrate the flow battery concept by demonstrating a single “Proof of Concept” POM-Air Flow Cell that is sized for a 25kW POM-Air Stack. The development of the next-generation Flow Cell proposed here, will improve durability and efficiency, while reducing costs with a system that requires fewer system components and materials. Unlike existing technologies, the Flow Cell can be recharged like a battery or refueled with high energy density (biomass and logistic-based) fuels. The Flow Cell has the potential to accelerate renewable generation, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the US reliance on foreign energy. FC&A anticipates that its proposed Flow Cell technology will achieve target $/kWhr and $/kW costs and operation targets primarily by (1) eliminating the need for several components currently required with a fuel cell utilizing a biomass/ logistic-based fuel, (2) improving system performance by eliminating system sensitivity to sulfur and CO and (3) through material cost reduction such as eliminating expensive precious metal catalysts and operating at lower temperatures than solid oxide fuel cells. FC&A’s basic commercialization strategy is to advance the technology in stages, beginning with initial 1-25kW demonstration systems and building to large MW scale systems.

Organization FlexEl, LLC
Title Novel Ultra-High Capacity Battery
Website www.flexelinc.com
Point of Contact Dr. Bob Proctor
Phone 301-314-1004
Email bob.proctor@flexelinc.com
Date Added 1/5/2011

FlexEl has developed a unique thin-film battery with the world's highest storage capacity per unit area, at 20 mAh/cm^2 for a 700 micron thick battery, and 10 mAh/cm^2 for a 400 micron thick battery. These batteries are completely flexible, and easily scaled to large surface areas and volumes. They are low cost, environmentally friendly, and easily recharged using both conventional charging methods and energy scavenging techniques. Cycle life of ~250 cycles was deemed insufficient for PHEV applications, but is sufficient for many other commercial applications, especially when taking into account battery capacity and cost relative to alternatives. Please contact FlexEl directly for further information.

Organization Florida Solar Energy Center-University of Central Florida
Title A Novel NCAA Battery for Power Systems
Website www.fsec.ucf.edu
Point of Contact Pyoungho Choi
Phone 321-638-1436
Email pchoi@fsec.ucf.edu
Date Added 1/5/2011

We propose to develop a new type of rechargeable Na+/Cu2+ Associated Anion (NCAA) battery made of cost effective materials such as sodium (Na) and copper (Cu), and non-aqueous electrolytes. The NCAA is novel in four important respects: 1) the use of non-aqueous electrolyte that exchanges ions between Na+ and Cu2+, and conducts the exchanged ions to electrodes; 2) the use of Na+-containing salt dissolved in a non-aqueous electrolyte; 3) the use of low cost materials and a high redox potential couple in their solid state; and 4) operation at low temperature. The inexpensive raw materials, a high redox couple, and low temperature operation constitute all the essential elements of advanced battery system for grid scale applications. Furthermore, the NCAA battery system does not suffer from thermal management and safety issues. It is projected that the cost of the battery will be much lower than that of the current state of the art technologies. We estimate an operating voltage of 3.1 V and a specific energy density of 489 A-h/kg, which results in the average energy density of 1516 Wh/kg. The cost of this battery will meet the target of $100/kWh.

Organization Georgia Tech Research Corporation
Title Solid-State Ultracapacitors Using Metal-Insulator Nanocomposites for High Energy Density Application
Website
Point of Contact Jeff Davis
Phone
Email jeff.davis@ece.gatech.edu
Date Added 1/5/2011

In order to make a successful transition to electric vehicles (EV), key storage technologies must be developed that simultaneously achieve high energy density, high peak power delivery, and an extremely large number of recharge cycles. The vision of this research is to create new solid-state ultracapacitors that revolutionize energy storage capabilities to transform the way our society uses electrical energy. The development of a low cost, environmentally friendly, and high energy density metal-insulator nanocomposites would be a key enabler of this vision. This work will capitalize on experiments performed over the last 30-40 years that have reported that under certain conditions metal-insulator nanocomposite materials can have an anomalous dielectric effect that produces extremely high dielectric constants. The premise of this investigation is that precise experimentation using advanced nanolithography and extensive simulation of metal-insulator nanocomposites are essential to the development of this transformational technology. Unlike previous work in this area, this research will create some of the most well-controlled and high-quality metal-insulator nanocomposites using nanolithographic techniques to determine the limits of the energy storage capability of these engineered materials by simultaneously exploring high-field dielectric constant enhancement, breakdown field strength, and leakage characteristics. The cross-disciplinary team of researchers in this proposed research will have a tight coupling between fabrication, testing, and simulation to explore the design space of these materials so as to produce a significant leap forward in the fundamental engineering knowledge needed to produce revolutionary energy storage devices.

Organization Giner, Inc.
Title 5V Lithium-Ion Battery using a Non-flammable Electrolyte for Safe, Long Cycle Life and Energy Efficiency
Website www.ginerinc.com
Point of Contact Dr. Robert C. McDonald
Phone 781-529-0530
Email rmcdonald@ginerinc.com
Date Added 1/5/2011

A battery electrolyte based on Giner’s 5-Volt technology will be used to meet two fundamental design challenges for lithium-ion automobile batteries: (1) Flammability of current lithium-ion electrolytes, and (2) extensive electronics need to control cell voltage limits in large series strings of cells.

Organization Graphene Energy Inc
Title Graphene-Based Ultracapacitors for Energy Storage
Website www.grapheneenergy.net
Point of Contact Dr. Dileep Agnihotri
Phone 512-926-1060
Email dmead@c56technologies.com
Date Added 3/3/2011

We are developing ultracapacitors using graphene and ionic liquids. With current technology, we expect to reach energy density of lead-acid batteries that can be charged and discharged in less than a second. The cycle life of these ultracapacitors is expected to be 1-2M cycles. This creates transformational energy storage for many markets including automotive, regenerative storage, consumer, etc.

Organization Intex Energy Systems, Inc.
Title High-Density Electrical Energy Storage Devices
Website
Point of Contact Terje Skotheim
Phone 520 232-2105
Email terje.skotheim@intexworld.com
Date Added 1/5/2011

The ideal energy storage technology for electric vehicles is a combination of a high energy density battery and a super-capacitor, where the super-capacitor makes it possible to absorb regenerative breaking energy and provide rapid acceleration at rates that batteries (or fuel cells) cannot. The main drawback of current electrochemical super-capacitors is the low energy density, necessitating large and expensive systems for a practical energy storage capacity. Nano-capacitor technology under development at Intex Energy Systems will radically alter this picture. Intex is working with the University of Arizona to develop a revolutionary new nano-scale energy storage technology, a Nano-wire Ultra-Capacitor (NUC) that combines two key functionalities: high power density with high energy density. The basic concept has been demonstrated in prototypes. The manufacturing process uses low cost and readily available materials and standard electroplating and vacuum thin film deposition processes. The NUC devices have low manufacturing costs compared with standard electrochemical supercapacitors. A distinguishing feature of the Intex ultra-capacitor devices is the high operating voltages, 10 - 40V have already been demonstrated and voltages potentially as high as 100V may be possible. This contrasts with <3V for electrochemical supercapacitors. This facilitates the design of high voltage systems as required for electric vehicles. Results achieved with early prototypes point toward energy densities >50 Wh/kg in fully engineered devices, potentially even higher. This opens entirely new prospects as a power plant for electric vehicles.

Organization Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Title High Performance Lithium-Sulfur Cell
Website www.lbl.gov
Point of Contact Elton J. Cairns
Phone 510-486-5028
Email ejcairns@lbl.gov
Date Added 1/5/2011

The best available rechargeable cells (LiC6/LiMO2) have a specific energy limited to about 200 Wh/kg (and a theoretical specific energy of approximately 550 Wh/kg). For transportation purposes, a much higher specific energy is required. In order to meet transportation needs, a new electrochemical system with a much higher theoretical specific energy is needed. Additionally, the new system should be environmentally benign and low cost. The lithium/sulfur system (theoretical specific energy 2600 Wh/kg) offers the opportunity to meet these goals. This proposal is for the development of a high-performance lithium/sulfur cell (600 Wh/kg, 840 Wh/L) with a new safe (low-volatility) electrolyte containing a low molecular weight polymer and an ionic liquid along with a lithium salt. This electrolyte permits the use of lithium metal as the negative electrode. The positive electrode is comprised of sulfur nanoparticles, an electronic conductor, and an elastomeric binder that accommodates the volume change accompanying discharge/recharge. Ideally, the elastomeric binder will contain provision for both ionic and electronic conductivity.

Organization NAVITASMAX
Title Novel Grid-Scale Renewable Energy Storage
Website
Point of Contact Kelly Herbst
Phone 520-280-9309
Email kcherbst@msn.com
Date Added 3/3/2011

We propose a new frontier in grid-scale energy storage by harnessing the remarkable, thermophysical properties of unique fluids. The NAVITASMAX technology vision for energy storage was inspired by observations in art, nature and science. Electrochemical, thermochemical and mechanical options can be harmful to the environment and expensive. In contrast, we advocate an efficient, inexpensive, carbon-negative, storage and generation cycle using common fluids. Our process solves directly the extreme compression volume and unique site requirement dilemmas of other thermophysical and thermochemical processes. We improve both cost and energy density through a never-before-envisioned thermally efficient system. More than an order of magnitude decrease in compression volume with significantly increased efficiency and storage costs of <$100/kWh are anticipated using commercial off-the-shelf components. Our team includes world leaders in renewable energy systems including: (1) NAVITASMAX, (2) the Cornell Center for a Sustainable Future, (3) Harvard University and (4) Barber-Nichols, specialty manufacturer in advanced energy systems.

Organization Northern Lights Semiconductor Corporation
Title Mcap: Ultra High Density Energy Storage
Website www.nlsemi.com
Point of Contact Dr. James Lai
Phone
Email jlai@nlsemi.com
Date Added 1/5/2011

Mcap stands for Magnetic capacitor. It is based on Giant-Magneto-Capacitance (GMC) phenomenon, where a magnetic field over a capacitor let it sustain an enormous electric field. Mcap has the highest energy and power density among batteries and ultracapacitors (>10X Li-ion battery). With no chemical reaction involved, Mcap is safe and highly efficient. As technology demonstration, Mcap has been used to drive mini-loads (e.g. LED, motorized toy car) and is currently in early prototyping for commercial electronics applications. With the right power management and circuit protection, a credit card size Mcap is expected to power a laptop, and a SIM chip size Mcap a cell phone, for hours. Mcap is perfect for mobile computing/communications devices, EV/PHEV energy storage and peak power delivery. It discharges like a capacitor for peak power delivery, and relies on power management chips (DC-DC converters) to supply steady power. While occupying and weighing but a fraction of Li-ion battery, Mcap costs far less. Mcap therefore empowers automakers to create full-range EVs that are economically viable without government subsidies.

Organization Nrgtek Inc.
Title Rechargeable Mg-ion batteries for energy storage
Website www.nrgtekinc.com
Point of Contact Subramanian Iyer
Phone 714-283-1067
Email siyer.nrgetk@yahoo.com
Date Added 1/5/2011

Nrgtek Inc. is currently developing rechargeable magnesium batteries, with high-capacity anodes and nano-structured cathodes, using high conductivity battery electrolytes with large electrochemical windows. A rechargeable Magnesium-ion battery will be developed and demonstrated by the end of 2012, capable of 400 Wh/kg specific energy and 600 Wh/l energy density in single cells at C/3 discharge rates, with enhanced safety features, faster charging and discharging, and a cycle life of 1000 cycles at 80% depth of discharge. Mg alloy anodes and reversible high-voltage cathodes will be developed, as well as alternative high-stability electrolytes with large electrochemical windows. Magnesium is an attractive material for the negative electrode of a rechargeable battery, since it has a high electrochemical equivalence of 2.20 Ah/g (as compared to 3.86 Ah/g of Li), a considerable negative potential of 2.37 volts versus SHE (as compared to 3.1 volts versus SHE for Li), theoretical cell voltage of 3.1 volts (as compared to 3.4 volts for Li) against air electrodes, and a theoretical specific energy of 6,800 Wh/kg. Magnesium is an abundantly available element in the earth‘s crust (as compared to the paucity of lithium ores in the world), and is inherently safer than lithium. While the wholesale price for metallic lithium is around $300/lb and lithium cobaltate is around $150/lb, magnesium metal costs only around $43/lb (LME). A rechargeable Mg-ion battery thus has enormous cost advantages over Li-ion batteries for energy storage, with applications in the automotive sector (for EVs, PHEVs and HEVs) as well as grid-connected renewable energy storage.

Organization Palo Alto Research Center, Inc.
Title Reformed hydrogen fuel cells for portable and stationary power
Website http://www.parc.com
Point of Contact Dr. Ashish V. Pattekar
Phone
Email ashish.pattekar@parc.com
Date Added 1/5/2011

PARC along with Lehigh University and the University of Arizona have proposed an integrated reformed hydrogen fuel cell power system. This system could provide energy storage densities up to 8 - 10 times those of existing technologies such as rechargeable batteries, and 4 - 5 times those of competing fuel cell technologies under development today. A key enabling aspect of this work is a novel radial flow micro-reactor design for processing liquid hydrocarbons to hydrogen, where prototypes with an improvement of 18X to 20X in hydrocarbon-to-hydrogen fuel processing performance have already been successfully demonstrated. The result is an integrated power source that could actually meet or exceed the 1000 WH/liter for electrical energy storage. Achieving this target would truly transform existing applications and also open up new opportunities in a wide range of markets, from portable consumer electronics to grid-connected and off-grid stationary and auxiliary power generation.

Organization Plasma Kinetics Corporation
Title Laser Excitation of Optically Enhanced Metal Hydrides ("Laser Hydrides")
Website www.plasmakinetics.com
Point of Contact Stacey Smith
Phone 480-473-0460
Email stacey.smith@plasmakinetics.com
Date Added 1/5/2011

Plasma Kinetics is developing laser hydrides (laser excitation of optically enhanced hydrides) for safe, economical hydrogen storage without pressurization. Laser hydride technology employs nano-optics and plasmonics to store and release hydrogen with photonically active materials with an energy density, volume and weight comparable with 5,000 psi tanks, but without the need for pressurization. Reduced pressure presents an immediate 20% improvement in energy efficiency, and presents storage methodologies which mitigate decompression and singular tank form factor. Plasma Kinetics Corporation will guide the development of a laser hydride system prototype which will enable the commercial realization of hydrogen storage for fuel cell vehicles, stationary energy delivery, and other applications. Research will focus on process improvements and cost reductions to advance the technology in support of high volume manufacturing, system durability, and comprehensive environmental sustainability. The research and development effort will dedicate resources to provide environmentally responsible solutions to recognizable solid state hydrogen storage hurdles, and advance the science and utility of discoveries related to this evolving technology.

Organization Powermers Inc.
Title High Cycle Life, High Energy and High Power Density Lithium-Air Battery
Website
Point of Contact Dr. Sam Kogan
Phone 617-818-1988
Email sam.kogan@gen3.com
Date Added 1/5/2011

Best available rechargeable lithium-air battery prototype cells deliver very high energy - over 1,000 Wh/kg for a real battery. This is a ten-fold increase compared to that of currently available lithium-ion batteries. However, lithium-air battery prototypes currently have cycle life of 40 cycles at the best and very low specific power (around 1 W/kg). The transportation industry calls for a technology that delivers at least 1,000 charge-discharge cycles and a power density of at 400+ W/kg. So, while having tremendous potential in terms of energy density, the lithium-air battery technology has to be substantially improved in terms of cycle life and power density to be eligible for the transportation industry applications. Powermers Inc. proposes to develop a high cycle life, high energy density and high power density lithium-air battery consisting of a lithium metal anode and an air permeable cathode coated with a nanolayer of a proprietary, conducting redox polymer. The polymer acts as a highly efficient and durable electrochemical catalyst, speeding up oxygen reduction and evolution reactions, therefore, providing high discharge power and high cycle life. Should we be successful, the technology has the potential to leapfrog over current EV battery technology in terms of both performance and cost. With minor differential in cost structures relative to low cost locations, manufacturing could be undertaken in the US to supply the global emerging EV market.

Organization ProDevo LLC dba Carver Scientific Inc,
Title Capacitors For Grid-Scale Rampable Intermittent Dispatchable Storage
Website www.carverscientific.com
Point of Contact David Caver
Phone 719-531-5936
Email dcarver@carverscientific.com
Date Added 1/5/2011

Collectively known as the Poly Organic platform technology, ProDevo LLC research has lead to the discovery of the patent-pending processes that is capable of producing unique geometries and utility of organic materials. The poly organic capacitor is an energy storage device that is similar to a battery. Capacitors known previously do not have the specific energy storage capabilities of a battery. The Poly Organic capacitors are new and different from traditional capacitors because they utilize a radically new type of dielectric filler in the device. Due to its ability to be manufactured at low-temperature and the unique ability of the dielectric material to have excellent energy storage capabilities at high voltages, the product can store energy similar to a traditional battery. Simply stated, the electrical energy storage capacity of the Poly Organic capacitor, or more generically, the battery substitute, possesses many times the storage capacity of similarly-sized, chemically-based, lithium ion battery and can be produced at a much lower cost.

Organization Texas A&M University
Title Low Cost Energy Storage Flywheel for Grid-Scale Rampable Intermittent Dispatchable Storage
Website
Point of Contact Alan Palazzolo
Phone 979-845-4580
Email a-palazzolo@tamu.edu
Date Added 1/5/2011

A novel design for a high strength steel HSS flywheel is predicted to have a similar Mass-Based Energy Density (MBED) and a higher Volume-Based Energy Density (VBED) relative to composite flywheels. The MBED for the HSS flywheel exceeds that of the composite flywheels as a result of an innovative motor/generator stator which provides an improved depth of discharge. Other advantages of the HSS flywheel are more available fatigue and fracture mechanics data, and a much higher thermal conductivity than composite flywheel material which prevents thermal hot-spot formation.

Organization The Pennsylvania State University
Title Rational Design and Development of High-Energy Density Li-Sulfur Battery
Website
Point of Contact Donghai Wang
Phone
Email dwang@psu.edu
Date Added 1/5/2011

The Pennsylvania State University (University Park, PA) will develop novel cathode and anode for high-energy, low cost Li-sulfur battery. This collaborative research project conduct experimental and theoretical studies and address the multi-faceted problems encountered in the development of high-energy Li-S batteries to significantly improve energy density and charge/discharge cycles of Li-sulfur battery for plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles applications. The Li-sulfur batteries composed of the novel electrodes will be fabricated using a unique 18650/prismatic cell fabrication facility at Penn State University. Demonstration cells will be evaluated by our industrial partner, i.e., Johnson Control Power Solution, to demonstrate manufacturability.

Organization University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Title Stacked NVC Panels as Ultra-High Energy Density, Low-Cost Batteries
Website engineering.illinois.edu/
Point of Contact Alfred Hubler
Phone 217-244-5892
Email hubler.alfred@gmail.com
Date Added 1/5/2011

Capacitors fail at high energy densities because of arcing. The energy density at which this occurs is large if the size of the capacitor is small. We study arrays of Nano Vacuum Tubes (NVTs), where each NVT is shaped like an atom. These synthetic atoms are small anodes surrounded by a much larger cathode. Cathode shapes are optimized by minimizing resonant tunneling, thereby minimizing field emission currents. In contrast to other capacitors, in synthetic atoms quantum interference suppresses electric breakdown. Therefore, energy densities are large compared to ultra capacitors. Measured charge/discharge rates of synthetic atoms are in the 100-femtosecond range. Like other capacitors they have 99% charge/discharge efficiency in temperature range of about 500 degrees and millions of charge/discharge cycles. Synthetic atoms are fabricated with standard lithographic methods. Arrays of Synthetic Atoms (ASAs) are networked with a CMOS power management system. Thereby, the battery’s charge-discharge cycle does not involve diffusion. In chemical batteries diffusion of molecules in the electrolyte limits the temperature range and charge/discharge rates. Non-Faradic processes reduce efficiency and lifetime. The ASA circumvents diffusion by mimicking an atom connected to an electrode. ASAs have no toxic components and have the potential to become low-cost general purpose batteries. Applications range from ultra-fast utility scale energy storage to integrated power supplies for CPUs. ASAs can be packaged as a Digital Quantum Battery (DQB) to store both information, like a flash drive and energy. The information storage capacity reaches a maximum when the DQB is 50% charged.

Organization University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research
Title Low-Cost Utility Scale Redox Flow Battery with a Novel Chemistry
Website www.caer.uky.edu
Point of Contact Stephen M. lipka
Phone 859-257-0213
Email lipka@caer.uky.edu
Date Added 1/5/2011

The proposed effort will develop an all-iron (Fe/Fe) redox flow battery system for off-grid energy storage, and seeks to improve upon the all-vanadium (V/V) system costs ($/kWh/cycle) through major cost reductions in the choice of metal salts, electrode materials, and ion exchange membranes, while maintaining similar performance metrics to the (V/V) system. The proposed iron system (11.3 WhL-1) has both a lower energy density and average discharge voltage (1.2V) than the vanadium system (19 WhL-1) and (1.35V). The major focus of the proposed effort will involve the achievement of improved (Fe/Fe) energy density through enhanced Fe concentrations and reversible redox potentials by exploitation of various ligand/metal chemistries and supporting electrolyte formulations.

Organization University of Notre Dame
Title High Throughput Approach for Improved Li-Air Battery Cathodes
Website
Point of Contact Paul McGinn
Phone
Email pmcginn@nd.edu
Date Added 1/5/2011

A high throughput thin film combinatorial approach is being used to develop improved cathode catalyst compositions for use in lithium-air batteries. The best performing catalyst compositions will be incorporated as nanoparticles into novel, optimally structured graphene based electrodes. The graphene electrode structure will be designed to provide a balance between effective catalyst utilization, gas transport and electrolyte absorption.

Organization Worcester Polytechnic Institute - Mechanical Energy and Power Systems Laboratory
Title Flywheel-Accumulator for Compact Hydraulic Energy Storage
Website http://www.wpi.edu/~vandeven/
Point of Contact Dr. James D. Van de Ven
Phone
Email vandeven@wpi.edu
Date Added 1/5/2011

The flywheel-accumulator integrates rotating kinetic and pneumatic energy storage into a single device, improving the density of hydraulic energy storage by an order of magnitude. Furthermore, the natural crossing of energy domains by using hydraulic fluid to change the inertia of the flywheel-accumulator allows the hydraulic pressure to be controlled independent of the quantity of energy stored.