Electricity-storage effort gets funds

Mar 12, 2010 — The Buffalo News

David Robinson

Mar. 12, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- A partnership between the University at Buffalo and two other entities to develop high-capacity batteries for storing electricity has won more than $550,000 in funding from the New York State Research and Development Authority.

The partnership with Binghamton University and the Brookhaven National Laboratory is working on three projects to develop improved batteries that can be used in stationary, power grid-scale energy storage applications. The researchers are working on lithium-air, lithium- ion and lithium-titanate batteries.

One issue with renewable energy projects, such as wind farms, is that the windy conditions that are conducive to generating electricity don't always coincide with when the demand for power is at its peak, and there is no way to store that much electricity until it's needed later.

"This project will allow the group to focus toward grid storage -- higher use of renewables on to the grid," said Colleen Ryan, an authority spokeswoman. "The end goal of this project is to potentially come up with better stationary storage technologies. The technologies they are working on will help make it more cost effective."

The grant is part of $8 million in funding that the authority awarded Thursday to 19 energy storage projects that involve transportation, utility Smart Grid applications, renewable energy technology and other industries.

drobinson@buffnews.com

Newstex ID: KRTB-0019-42838828