Pilot Demo of Ultra Low Cost, Long-Duration Energy Storage Coupled to Solar Power
Noon Energy Inc.
Recipient
Palo Alto, CA
Recipient Location
13th
Senate District
24th
Assembly District
Active
Project Status
Project Update
The Issue
Inherently low cost, safe, and compact energy storage using only earth-abundant, non-toxic materials is needed to support solar and wind energy generation as California moves to a 100% renewable energy future. Pumped hydro makes up the vast majority of stationary storage today, but it is limited to specific locations. Conventional Li-ion batteries offer high efficiency but the cost is fundamentally limited by the relatively expensive metals in which energy is stored. Flow batteries promise lower costs at longer storage durations but have issues related to materials or performance.
Project Innovation
This project will scale-up an ultra-low-cost, long-duration battery technology from TRL4 to TRL 6. The battery stores energy by splitting CO2 into solid carbon and oxygen in a flow battery configuration, utilizing abundant materials and simple reaction chemistry. At <$1 per kWh capacity for the storage media, it will provide long-duration storage at below $20 per kWh capacity, much lower than existing storage technologies. During the project, a 5kW and 100kW battery will be built and tested at an industrial demonstration site.
Project Benefits
By providing inherently low cost, safe, and compact energy storage using only earth-abundant, non-toxic materials, Noon's new battery technology promises an ideal solution to behind-the-meter, long duration storage for California ratepayers and to fulfilling California's state mandate of 100% carbon-free electricity by 2045. Noon Energy's new battery uses ultra-low-cost storage media (<$1 per kWh capacity) and can match the high energy efficiency of lithium-ion technology. At long storage duration capacity, this new battery enables very low system-level storage cost below $20 per kWh capacity, 80% round trip energy efficiency, and double the system-level energy density of today's lithium-ion batteries.
Affordability
At <$1 per kWh capacity for the storage media, it will provide long-duration storage at below $20 per kWh capacity, much lower than existing storage technologies.
