New Zealand energy storage company ArcActive has launched a lead-acid battery pilot in Geelong, aiming to make energy storage more affordable and accessible for commercial and industrial businesses.
The pilot is operating at Deakin University’s Renewable Grid-Connected Battery Testing Facility at its Waurn Ponds campus, with support from Origin Energy. It forms part of Deakin’s renewable energy microgrid, which combines electricity generation and storage for operational use.
According to ArcActive, the system uses a redesigned internal battery structure, incorporating a fabric framework to support the material responsible for storing and releasing energy. The company aims to extend battery cycling life while retaining the lower cost associated with lead-acid technology.
ArcActive chief executive Stuart McKenzie said the project sought to address costs beyond the battery itself, including engineering, approvals, insurance and safety requirements.
“If they don’t know what their site will need or how much it will cost, they can be reluctant to invest,” McKenzie said.
He said lead-acid technology could provide a familiar starting point for installations, as engineers, approval authorities and insurers already had experience with the technology.
ArcActive is targeting businesses that could use battery storage to retain solar electricity for later use and reduce their reliance on grid power during periods of high prices.
“We want businesses to be able to deploy storage through a more standardised, repeatable process, with greater confidence about the cost, the approval requirements and the financial return,” McKenzie said.
Origin Energy Group Manager for Customer Solution Development and Emerging Technology Bill Truscott said trials could help assess emerging technologies and their potential applications.
“We’re interested in how new technologies could help our commercial and industrial customers innovate and manage their energy needs,” Mr Truscott said.
The pilot will provide a testing environment for ArcActive’s redesigned battery system as the company works to develop a more standardised approach to commercial energy storage.
