Hawaii’s Energy Research Systems Buys 4 Vanadium Flow Batteries

Energy Research Systems has signed a purchase order for four Energy Storage Platform (ESP)5 vanadium flow batteries from Imergy Power Systems.

The ESP5 is capable of 5 kW of capacity and can store up to 30 kWh of electricity.

The four ESP5s ordered by Energy Research Systems will be used by:

• Two residential customers, who are installing the ESP5 vanadium flow batteries in conjunction with new off-grid solar power systems.
• One microgrid customer, who is installing the battery in conjunction with an off-grid microgrid to test various solar, storage, hydrogen production and other advanced energy technologies.
• One institutional customer, a technical school’s science center, recipient of both LEED Platinum and Living Building Challenge certifications. Its ESP5 vanadium flow battery will work in conjunction with a solar power system at the facility as the school evaluates how to take its entire campus off-grid using renewable energy and energy storage technologies.

Imergy specializes in vanadium based flow battery systems. Flow batteries essentially store electricity in a liquid electrolyte that circulates between tanks. Integrated power electronics manage the charging and discharging processes.

Earlier this year, Imergy unveiled how it can produce vanadium-based storage systems with low- grade vanadium from mining slag and other environmental waste. As a result of this technology and other developments, Imergy will be able to lower the cost of its flow battery solutions to under $300 per kilowatt hour, it says.