EnerVenue has announced the operation of a pilot energy storage system in Jintan, Changzhou, China, owned and operated by Towngas—Hong Kong’s first public utility and one of China’s largest energy suppliers.
The Towngas facility integrates on-site renewable energy generation with electric bus charging stations. It is here that EnerVenue is demonstrating the exceptional cycling capability of its Aqueous Metal Cells (AMCs) by charging and discharging continuously over two- to four-hour periods to match load demand and reduce energy costs. By comparison, most lithium-ion battery systems require rest periods between cycles, as constant cycling would quickly degrade performance or even lead to risky thermal events.
Reliable Technology for Demanding Requirements
Henning Rath, Chief Executive Officer at EnerVenue, said:
“Towngas does not choose technology that might work; they want technology they know will function safely, efficiently, and reliably every day, for decades. These demanding requirements are exactly what our fourth-generation AMC and Energy Rack technology were designed to meet, and we’re very proud to demonstrate their performance under real-world conditions.”
The pilot operates a customised version of EnerVenue’s modular Energy Rack. Packaged within an outdoor-rated housing are 50 AMCs delivering a total storage capacity of 150 kWh, complete with an inverter and battery management system.
Durability and Sustainability
EnerVenue’s AMC technology offers a unique combination of durability, robustness, and safety, making it ideally suited to commercial, industrial, and grid-scale applications. With a 30,000-cycle design life—compared to the 6,000–8,000 cycles typical of lithium-ion batteries—it also combines low total cost of ownership with maximum uptime and minimal maintenance requirements.
These key attributes are reinforced by the AMC’s ability to operate in a wide range of ambient temperatures—lab-tested from -20°C to +60°C—making Energy Racks suitable for installation in harsh environments and remote locations without the need for complex heating and cooling systems. Sustainability is also superior to currently available batteries: the cells do not use lithium or toxic electrolytes, and recyclability at end-of-life is simple.
A Commitment to Low-Carbon Solutions
“As a major energy supplier operating throughout China, Towngas is committed to clean energy solutions that support the transition to a sustainable, low-carbon future,” said Peter Wong Wai-yee, Managing Director of Towngas. “Long-life grid-scale storage that is safe, reliable, and low-maintenance is essential to maximising the cost-effectiveness and widespread deployment of renewables. EnerVenue’s technology can play a key role in this, and we’re delighted to be the first to field-test the latest generation technology.”
The Towngas pilot will be joined by more commercial demonstration systems with other partners worldwide in the coming months. In parallel, EnerVenue’s recently announced £235 million ($300 million) funding round will enable the rapid scale-up of the company’s manufacturing operations in Changzhou, China, where the company’s fourth-generation AMC technology and Energy Racks are made: construction of a new 250 MWh high-volume production line is due to begin later this year.
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