|
E.ON UK is researching and developing a groundbreaking 'giant
battery' that will be able to store energy, in a move
which could unlock the full potential of renewable energy
and microgeneration.
The battery, being researched and tested by E.ON's Technology
Centre in Nottingham, will store energy generated from wind
farms and distributed microgeneration such as solar panels.
The energy would be stored when it is not needed by customers
- meaning it could be used when demand is high - something
that has not been tested before on a large-scale.
A large-scale prototype is currently being developed that
will be able to store 1MW of electricity for four hours -
the equivalent of 10 million AA batteries - and is the same
size as four articulated lorry containers.
Bob Taylor, Managing Director of Energy Wholesale and Technology,
said - "Green power is only generated from wind farms
when the wind blows and that might not be when the power is
needed by customers. By researching and developing this battery,
we can store the power generated by wind farms any time and
then use it when our customers need it the most.
"The storage system will also help the development of
localised generation - for example, a school with solar panels
can store the power generated at weekends and use it when
the kids are back in school."
The work is part of a collaborative venture sponsored by
the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.
Once E.ON completes its tests and evaluation of the smaller
test batteries, the larger prototype will be built. Project
partners and colleagues from the company's distribution business
- Central Networks - will then install the prototype on the
local electricity network. It is expected the prototype -
using a secret combination of chemicals - will be in place
and operational by autumn 2009.
"It's still very early days, but we believe energy storage
is a key which will help us unlock a lower carbon tomorrow
and radically change the way we think about energy" -
added Bob.
E.ON has also announced a £40 million research fund,
which will support the further development of energy storage
and other promising energy technologies. The new international
fund will provide an important source of cash for researchers
around the world for the next ten years.
E.ON is already encouraging the brightest minds around in
the UK - and the world - to apply for funds and further push
the research boundaries.
E.ON UK is also investing £50 million in new technologies
and approaches over the next ten years, through the Energy
Technologies Institute.
|
