NEXTECH MATERIALS, LTD. — Department of Energy SBIR Phase II: C51-26a

Description

Delivering clean, affordable electricity, and reducing power outages to homes across America requires modernization of the U.S. energy grid. As the growth of renewable generation outstrips fossil capacity, the U.S. grid faces new stability and resiliency challenges. The intermittency of renewables forces fossil energy generating units built for steady, predictable demand, to assume a new role as flexible base-load power and energy storage resources, balancing intermittent renewable assets and smoothing grid performance. Essential to this new role and future grid stability is low-cost, scalable, energy-storage, co-located, and integrated with the fossil energy generating units. In this SBIR Phase II effort, Nexceris will advance the product readiness of EnergySafeTM, a disruptive low-cost intraday (6-12 hours duration) energy storage technology that is ideally suited for fossil asset integration. EnergySafe systems can improve fossil asset utilization and environmental performance while improving grid stability and renewable integration. Its success would accelerate the energy transition, capabilities that allow renewable grid integration to proceed apace while capturing the greatest grid stability and value from existing gas and coal-fired assets. In Phase I Nexceris successfully advanced EnergySafe from an initial concept to a 250 Wh multi-stack module that demonstrated all key technical functionalities and served as an important proof-point for the technology. In the proposed Phase II project Nexceris, in partnerships with the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and BRITE Energy Innovators will accelerate the product readiness of EnergySafe. The Phase II project will culminate with an independent 5 kWh module demonstration at BRITE’s test facility to position EnergySafe for on-site demonstrations with industrial partners. The proposed Phase II project aligns the DOE Energy Storage Grand Challenge (ESGC) goals of fostering energy storage solutions that leverage US-developed technology and manufacturing, along with domestically sourced raw materials, to serve utilities in the US and abroad. EnergySafe addresses the limitations of competing battery technologies and has a low-cost structure that makes it cost-competitive with thermal-energy storage for intraday energy storage applications when integrated with fossil energy generating units. EnergySafe will therefore benefit many use-cases that are not addressed satisfactorily by existing technologies. It can provide fossil asset owners with both grid and capacity support. These include power generation (frequency regulation, renewable smoothing, energy shifting, and fewer peaker plant builds), transmission and distribution (defer system upgrades, improve reliability and improve power quality through voltage and VAR management), and providing backup power and lower retail rates for end- users.