Post date: Jul 23, 2012 5:38:33 PM
An Israeli company has developed a new energy storage system capable of communicating with other elements of the power grid. The firm, Nation-E says its battery technology stores, manages and distributes energy, potentially cutting consumers' electricity costs and allowing solar and wind power to be used more effectively. Jim Drury has more.
MIDEAST/FILE-ENERGY BANK - It looks like a run-of-the-mill household appliance.....in fact it's a sophisticated new battery system that its makers say, could revolutionise future home electricity use.
The Nation-E battery system can store, manage, and distribute energy, potentially cutting consumers' electricity costs.
Functioning like a self-contained 'smart grid', it stores energy when electricity is cheap and demand low, distributing it back to users during peak hours.
The system can also be used as a platform for various household and industrial systems, connecting solar panels, smoke alarms and security systems.
Nation-E CEO Idan Udi Edri...
IDAN UDI EDRI, CEO OF NATION-E IN ISRAEL, SAYING:
"You put more applications into one platform and I am telling everybody who is dealing with smart energy to put their applications on this platform. It's the Apple of energy today. It's a platform, with a communication layer, with technology, with the brain that knows how to deal energy and connect it into one system."
Efficient energy storage is a vital element of future power grids, helping enable steady power flow, particularly when using variable energy sources such as solar and wind generation.
Company president Daniel Jammer told reports at a recent product launch that the battery will revolutionise energy useage.
GAL LUFT, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE INSTITUTE FOR THE ANALYSIS OF GLOBAL SECURITY,
"What is new is not the battery. Batteries have been around for more than a 100 years. What is new is the ability of the battery to communicate with the grid, with renewable energy, with other elements of electrical system. Just like our laptop was able to open up to the internet once we added this WiFi system. That is what is new here."
To be cost-effective energy experts say storage facilities need to last 10 years and 4,000 charging cycles.
Nation-E is confident its product will exceed these targets, energizing home owners and industry alike.
Jim Drury, Reuters