Dive Brief:
- Fluidic Energy demonstrated its new long duration Zinc-air energy storage system for Arizona Corporation Commissioner Andy Tobin, which is being developed with funding through the Arizona Public Service (APS) Solar Innovation Study-125 program.
- The company said its battery is the first new electrochemical storage technology to reach global commercial scale since the 1990s.
- The project will store energy generated either at off-peak times by the grid, or from solar panels. It is Fluidic's first residential storage installation.
Dive Insight:
Lithium ion batteries may be making the headlines these days, but battery storage developers are still looking at other technologies suitable for different applications. Fluidic has focused on creating energy storage systems for rural electrification in developing areas, and is now rolling out its Zinc-air storage system in a residential system in North America.
The company is installing its rechargeable, long duration Zinc-air hybrid energy storage unit at the home of Tom Harris, president of the Arizona Solar Energy Industries Association. The company said the system's performance will be monitored 24/7 "so that learnings can be used to maximize the benefit of long duration energy storage for the home owner."
Tobin, on a tour of Fluidic's technology, manufacturing and monitoring facilities, said he wants the state to be a leader in energy storage.
"Our state's energy future is undeniably tied to maximizing the use of abundant sunshine here, both day and night, through residential- and utility-scale batteries," he said via Fluidic's statement. "This project reflects a clear vision of Arizona being one of America's energy storage leaders."
Greentech Media reported last year that the company is targeting longer-duration storage, where it believes lithium ion systems are not as effective. "Our sweet spot is four to 24 hours, and at $200 to $300 per kilowatt-hour, we're ready to serve the long-duration market," Fluidic CEO Steve Scharnhorst told the site.