USA

New York-based Convergent Energy + Power has won a contract to install a valve-regulated lead acid (VRLA) battery storage plant in Boothbay Harbor, Maine, US.

The battery storage system is to feed 500kWh continuously to the grid. The system will be part of Central Maine Power’s (CMP) plan to provide load reduction on its transmission line to the Boothbay region and to prevent outages during peak hours.

The US auto-industry is recovering and shipments of new and replacement automotive batteries are rising accordingly. Vehicle sales for August 2013 were 17% higher than a previous year, at 16.1 million.

Reports from auto-makers of strong car and truck sales in August indicate the market is recovering, which has lead to a rise in the price of lead.

Shipments of new and replacement batteries in the US rose to 10.5 million units over 12 months, up 2.2% on the previous year. Battery Council International (BCI) cites new car sales as the driving force behind increased sales. Total year-to-date sales show the continuing growth, with replacement battery sales up 7% on the previous year.

Increased demand is raising the premium on the price of lead in the US to up to US$0.15 above the London Metal Exchange rate, twice the figure of a year ago.

President Obama has issued a report recommending energy storage systems be made a priority for investment in the US to achieve grid resilience.

The White House report stressed the value of investment to modernise the country’s national grid and how the inclusion of energy storage would make it more reliable.

The Electricity Storage Association (ESA) has been working with the Administration, Department of Energy Secretary Moniz and other stakeholders to highlight the benefits offered by energy storage. Brad Roberts, Executive Director of the ESA, said: “This is the latest in a succession of positive developments that underscore the importance of storage to a better and more balanced energy future.”

The White House Report stresses the importance of strengthening the power network in the light of storms like Hurricane Sandy. The cost of  weather-related power outages was estimated to be up to US$70 billion in 2012. To safeguard against such outages, US$4.5 billion has been allocated by The Recovery Act to invest in smart grid technologies. The report concludes that the US needs a multi-dimensional strategy, including developing a smarter, more resilient grid, to ensure the welfare of people dependent on the grid for reliable power.

Alongside this support from the White House, the ESA is lobbying to support a newly introduced bill in the US Congress, which is part of legislation surrounding energy storage to create investment tax credit for all types of energy storage technology.

Called the Storage Technology for Renewable and Green Energy (STORAGE) Act, it will benefit anyone who is investing in energy storage technology by way of investment tax credit (ITC) and clean renewable energy bonds (CREBS) up to US$1.5 billion.

To view the full report, visit http://energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2013/08/f2/Grid%20Resiliency%20Report_FINAL.pdf

Exide Technologies' battery recycling plant in Frisco, Texas US, is to close by the end of this year after a battle by city residents over environmental issues.

The company is now being sued by two environmental groups concerned about the impact the plant has had on the health of the population. 

The groups feel regulators failed to take action on violations being committed at the plant as found on inspections.

"There are chronic contamination problems at Exide that still pose a hazard to Frisco residents and property. There's also a long history of law-breaking that the company must be held accountable for," said Colette McCadden, secretary of Frisco Unleaded.

Exide has been a target of critics in recent years because of lead emissions that exceed the US federal air-quality standard. That standard was tightened in 2008 because of mounting research into the dangers of exposure to the toxic metal at very low levels.

Exide are ceasing operation at the end of this year and the city is buying the land to re-generate.

Things are looking better for the company elsewhere however. In India Exide are planning to expand their manufacturing capacity. They will focus upon the invertor segment as opposed to automotive batteries.