Utility Demonstration of Non-Flammable, Aqueous-Zinc Battery Storage: Innovation Scale-Up to Alleviate T&D Congestion and Mitigate Wildfire Risks
Demonstration of a 3rd generation zinc hybrid cathode battery storage system at San Diego Gas and Electric.
Eos Energy Storage, LLC
Recipient
Edison, NJ
Recipient Location
$2,448,802
Amount Spent
Completed
Project Status
Project Result
Eos completed the design and manufacturing of the Gen 3 system. Components were transported to and assembled in California and the system was installed at San Diego Gas and Electric's facility in Pala, San Diego County. The system was commissioned in 2022 and testing is now underway. The system is currently in operation and will allow Eos to continue collecting data on system performance to help optimize the current generation and roll that knowledge into the future generations of product.
The Issue
To date, California investor-owned utilities have focused almost exclusively on commercially available lithium-ion technologies for energy storage, which carries fundamental risks and challenges including potential higher lifecycle cost, potential fire hazards, and supply chain concerns due to raw materials needed and competition with use in electric vehicles. There is a need to demonstrate and commercialize other energy storage solutions with non-lithium ion technologies.
Project Innovation
This project will demonstrate and deploy an Eos Generation 3 zinc hybrid cathode battery storage system at San Diego Gas and Electric's distribution station in Pala, San Diego County. The project will demonstrate the system, which is being designed to improve power and energy density by more than 25% over the previous Generation 2 system. The demonstration will support commercialization of the storage solution by providing data on system performance and safety that are necessary to create confidence in the market.
Project Benefits
The project will demonstrate the application and benefits of a cost-effective and efficient non-lithium-ion energy storage solution to help with load shifting, reduction in grid congestion, and deployment of renewable energy resources to help the state meet its energy goals.
Reliability
Deployment in partnership with a utility at a distribution station to evaluate different operating scenarios will help demonstrate the value of energy storage for providing greater electricity reliability.
Safety
There is no inherent risk in this battery technology for starting fires or fueling the spread of wildfires, thus making it a safer alternative to lithium ion storage systems.
Key Project Members
Thomas Wehner
Subrecipients
San Diego Gas & Electric Company
Naico ITS, Inc
First Priority GreenFleet
Peaxy, Inc.
Match Partners
Eos Energy Storage, LLC
