Invinity Energy Systems (IES, ) a global manufacturer of utility-grade energy storage, has announced a 0.88 MWh sale to the Detroit branch of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 58 for use in a solar plus storage project.
The project involves installing four Invinity VS3 vanadium flow batteries and a 235 kWp solar array at IBEW 58 Headquarters in Detroit, Michigan alongside a 235 kWp solar array.
The batteries will store and dispatch power generated from the solar array, aiming to achieve carbon neutrality, reduce energy bills, and enhance energy security. Additionally, the system will be used to train a portion of IBEW Local 58's 4,800 members in Invinity's VFB technology, potentially supporting future installations across North America.
Delivery of the batteries is expected in Q3 2023 and was part of Invinity's recently disclosed commercial pipeline.
In other battery sector news, Gelion (GELN) an Anglo-Australian battery maker, announced that further to the Johnson Matthey IP acquisition in March, it has evaluated the 450 patents across 82 patent families acquired and retained the majority of the IP portfolios.
Alongside the acquisition assisting in the acceleration of internal R&D and enhancing future partnership prospects, it positions Gelion as a significant player in the lithium-sulfur market, providing a strong foundation for becoming a global leader in this sector.
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The news of Invinity receiving an order with IBEW demonstrates the growing demand in the US for vanadium batteries to assist with energy storage, which is particularly crucial in Detriot, as the city is prone to losing power due to high winds, storms, and flooding.
More extreme weather events in the US are tied to global warming, negatively affecting energy supply. For example, in 2021, a tropical cyclone Cristobal passed over Lake Superior in Michigan , the first such storm ever recorded doing so, causing more than 55,000 power outages in the state. With this in mind, the need for capacity retention in batteries is crucial, and as Invinity’s VS3 batteries are made with vanadium, they potentially hold the edge over lithium batteries, retaining stored energy far more effectively, along with less performance degradation over time.
Given the shortcomings of lithium-ion batteries, Gelion’s anticipated lithium silicon sulfur batteries, used for mobile storage, will dramatically boost energy density and safety while reducing cost. The progress made on the IP acquisition demonstrates that Gelion is making strides towards the development of energy-dense lithium silicon sulfur batteries which will be a key ingredient in the transition towards net zero.
Bloomberg New Energy Finance says that by 2030 the EV market will reach US$7 trillion and US$46 trillion by 2050. On top of this, hybrid e-aviation is expected to become available as early as 2026, allowing for commercial short-haul flights to become carbon-neutral. By 2040, the entire transportation system will be close to achieving full decarbonisation, with Gelion's proprietary technology well-placed to assist in this transition.
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