supercapacitor

German BASF and US energy storage start-up EnerG2 have partnered for the scale-up of carbon materials for supercapacitors and lead-acid batteries.

EnerG2 has developed a carbon technology platform that enables large-scale production of carbon materials. Seattle-based EnerG2’s patented carbon material is designed for supercapacitor electrodes and as a performance additive in start-stop lead-acid batteries in automotive and industrial applications. The two companies will jointly further develop the materials, expand capacity and extend global presence with a focus on Asia and Europe.

Bulgarian lead-acid battery manufacturer Monbat is considering taking a manufacturing license for a novel lithium-ion/supercap automotive starter battery designed by Olife.

Czech developer Olife is currently testing a 12V lithium iron phosphate/supercapacitor system designed to offer a reliable lead-free operation in freezing temperatures and necessary cranking current for automotive start-stop applications.

California’s energy storage firm BioSolar and the University of California at Santa Barbara (UCSB) are to partner for the development of polymer-based supercapacitors.

The partners aim to develop supercapacitors for reducing the cost of storing energy from solar power.

A consortium led by Newcastle University has developed a small-scale off-grid combined heat and power (CHP) system incorporating an energy storage system (ESS).

The small-scale CHP system, funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), uses waste heat to provide cooling and heat as well as power. A domestic-scale tri-generation system of this type would be rated between 6kW and 9kW electricity.

The ESS is designed to provide dependable electricity and to cope with daily fluctuation demand for electricity without a connection to the grid. “Our solution was to incorporate advanced electrical storage into the system, both batteries and the latest supercapacitors, combined with innovative system control,” said Tony Roskilly, professor at Newcastle University.

To make the system greener and accessible for isolated homes in developing countries, the CHP is run by biofuels. “We developed a system for using the oils obtained from pressing crop seeds, like those from jatropha and croton,” said Roskilly. The crops can grow in harsh environments and do not affect food production, according to the researchers.

The team also included researchers from University of Leeds, University of Ulster and three Chinese universities.

Semiconductor developer, STMicroelectronics, has brought out a new integrated circuit (IC) that uses a thermo-electric generator to power electronic circuits and recharge batteries.

The IC uses ambient light or thermal energy to power small electronic devices such as wireless sensors, smart-building and industrial equipment controls.