Utility Demonstration of Znyth Battery Technology to Characterize Performance and Grid Benefits
Eos' ZnythTM battery technology has cost and performance advantages over existing battery energy storage.
Eos Energy Storage, LLC
Recipient
Edison, NJ
Recipient Location
$1,927,382
Amount Spent
Completed
Project Status
Project Result
Following decommissioning of the system at PG&E, Eos installed a 100kW/300kWh system utilizing the subsequent generation of battery technology at SDG&E's Pala Energy Storage Yard. The system achieved full commissioning completion and began daily automatic charge, discharge, and data collection on June 24, 2020. The system was tested primarily in the peak shifting use case: charging in the morning and discharging during the late afternoon peak demand period. The system also responded to four CAISO Flex Alerts for available energy capacity during the rolling blackouts in the week of August 17th, being dispatched without interruption for cycles lasting 3, 4, and 5 hours. The system was decommissioned on October 23 after 75 successful charge-discharge cycles.
The Issue
Distributed energy storage can provide fast-responding grid services and much needed locational capacity to integrate renewable energy. Despite this great potential, the high cost and short life of current commercial energy storage technologies make their use largely uneconomical. Moreover, safety and energy density limitations have prevented wide-spread deployment of energy storage on a distributed basis. There is minimal experience in integrating these storage systems with traditional utility infrastructure. Safer and more cost-effective energy storage options need to be developed for integration into the electrical grid with input from the electric utilities.
Project Innovation
The purpose of this agreement is to further develop an emerging energy storage technology, a zinc hybrid cathode battery (Znyth), and evaluate the performance of this technology for distribution-connected applications in partnership with a utility. The test results of this grant are important to confirm the safety and performance of the system when grid connected.
Project Benefits
Eos is the only company offering a zinc hybrid cathode battery. This is an aqueous, zinc-based battery technology that is inherently safer than competing technologies. This technology is non-flammable and non-toxic. In addition to being backed by UL- and ISO-certified quality assurance and control, the manufacturing process involves no toxic or hazardous materials. This demonstration provides information and data to assess the value and cost savings of utility-scale battery energy storage when interconnected to the grid.

Affordability
This project will determine any cost savings by testing this battery system and determining how well the battery can cost-effectively provide the grid with peak shaving, ancillary services, load following, and frequency regulation. These markets and services may provide a revenue stream for energy storage users.

Reliability
This project will contribute to more efficient battery storage which will ensure greater reliability for the grid as a whole and increase energy storage use.

Safety
This zinc-based battery technology is safer than competing technologies because it is non-flammable and non-toxic. The manufacturing process does not involve toxic or hazardous materials; this also makes transportation and handling much safer.
Key Project Members

Thomas Wehner
Subrecipients

Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Pacific Gas and Electric Company

Match Partners

Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.

Eos Energy Storage, LLC
