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
$531,187
Amount Spent
Active
Project Status
Project Update
In 2022, the team added key team members, and demonstrated a scaled-up prototype energy storage system in the lab. To complement this key CEC BRIDGE funding, Noon also raised Series A venture funding in 2022. In 2023, Noon will continue scale up of both the team and technology and develop the first Noon the first demo system for field testing in 2024.
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, 70% round trip energy efficiency, and more than triple 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. In addition, this will enable making intermittent solar and wind power into fully reliable 24/7/365 renewable electricity supply.
Key Project Members
Chris Graves
Subrecipients
OxEon Energy, LLC
Match Partners
OxEon Energy, LLC
