Ambri’s Liquid Metal battery system has taken a major step on the pathway to commercialization, after the company signed its first agreement with a utility provider.
Xcel Energy and Ambri will jointly test the 300kWh system at SolarTAC in Aurora, Colorado, for a period of 12 months, enabling a comprehensive evaluation of its capabilities and performance. Installation of the system is expected to begin in early 2024, with the system fully operational later that year. The system will use the GridNXT Microgrid Platform at SolarTAC to integrate multiple generation sources, such as solar and wind, along with inverters, load banks, and 3-phase distribution connections and communications.
“Xcel Energy is a forward-thinking and ambitious utility, and their enthusiasm for testing our system highlights the huge potential for Liquid Metal batteries,” said Adam Briggs, Chief Commercial Officer at Ambri. “Xcel Energy clearly understands the significant value that can be achieved by integrating innovative storage technologies into their renewable portfolio.”
This collaboration represents the first field-deployed utility pilot system for Ambri, showcasing its innovative Liquid Metal™ batteries in a real-world setting. It also marks the initial evaluation and demonstration of these batteries by a major U.S. utility. Throughout the demonstration period, Xcel Energy and Ambri will test various use cases, including solar and wind integration, capacity management, arbitrage, and ancillary services, among others.
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“Xcel Energy has always been at the forefront among utilities in the transition to carbon-free electricity,” said Justin Tomljanovic, vice president, Corporate Development at Xcel Energy. “This demonstration project with Ambri allows us to explore a technology that could help us continue to reliably supply the energy our customers depend on throughout the clean energy transition.”
In 2018, Xcel Energy became the first utility in the industry to set a long-term goal of providing its customers with zero carbon electricity by 2050. The company’s carbon-free electricity goal is a part of its vision is to become a comprehensive clean energy provider for its customers, providing them with zero or net zero electricity, heating, and transportation.
Xcel Energy plans to develop a follow-on Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for larger-capacity long-duration energy storage projects to follow the upcoming 300kWh system at SolarTAC.
SOURCE: BusinessWire