Tag: SoNick

Questions to ask about installing an energy storage system

Posted on by Linda

Most people that are looking at installing an energy storage system (battery and battery inverter) don’t realise that every installation is different and there is no one size fits all. Installations are very dependent on whether there is already solar PV in place and the current electrical wiring situation at the premises.

With solar PV installations as long as you have suitable roof space you can install a system and the questions that need deciding are finding a reliable supplier / installer, working out the size of the PV system needed according to electricity usage and roof space and the size of the inverter required.

With an energy storage system it is much more complicated. Among the considerations are;

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What is the Cycle Life of Your Battery?

Posted on by Linda

When you see information about batteries one thing you will often see is the number of cycles Battery_Cycle_Life_vs_Depth_of_Discharge2they will claim to be able to provide in their lifetime. This figure can be anywhere from 2,000 cycles to 5,000 or even 6,000 cycles.

At first glance it might seem that the higher the number of cycles, the better the battery will be but in fact there are many factors that can affect the true number of cycles you will get out of your battery over its lifetime. Generally the more you take a battery below its recommended depth of discharge the fewer cycles you will get out of the battery.

One cycle is taking a battery from fully charged down to its recommended depth of discharge before charging it up again.
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Is your battery toxic to you or your environment?

Posted on by Linda

Non-toxic battery

One of the things that you should consider when putting battery storage on your home is whether or not the battery chemistry is toxic either in its manufacture or disposal or in its day to day use.

Often, one of the reasons that people put solar panels on their house and put in battery storage to collect the excess usage is to protect the environment and reduce the need for coal powered power stations.

This can be counterproductive if you choose a battery that is made from toxic materials or has components that can’t be recycled. Continue reading “Is your battery toxic to you or your environment?” →

What is the best operating temperature for your battery?

Posted on by Linda

4-seasons-battery-temperature

Most batteries will operate, with varying degrees of effectiveness in the 5 – 35 °C range so are fine for the autumn and spring operating months, however if you want a battery that will also operate efficiently in winter and summer you need to understand how temperature has an effect on a batteries operating capabilities.

The ambient weather temperatures have a large impact on the performance and on the life of most batteries and unfortunately, it’s a characteristic that isn’t often talked about.

The optimum temperature for most batteries to operate at is around 25°C and this is the temperature all battery testing is performed at. When temperatures vary, either up or down there is an effect on the performance and life of most batteries.

Depending on the chemistry of the battery different batteries will only operate optimally within a limited temperature range, so it’s important to understand this when purchasing or upgrading your battery for energy storage.

When the temperature starts to fall  below about 15°C, depending on the battery chemistry, the electro-chemistry of the battery becomes sluggish and doesn’t perform as well. In fact, very few batteries operate below 0°C. This is relevant in many countries in Europe, the USA or Canada but not as relevant in most of Australia.

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Energy Storage Growth Predictions

Posted on by Linda

Photovoltaic (PV) electricity generation’s biggest weakness up until now has been its inability to supply power at the times it is most needed.Energy Storage-Growth

 

This can be addressed with the installation of battery systems that allow households and businesses to store renewable energy for use in peak periods.

The use of both photovoltaics and wind energy is increasing but it is the intermittent supply of both these sources of energy production that will drive the take up of battery storage.

As the price of electricity increases and the price of batteries decrease the use of batteries will become a better financial option for many people, particularly those that recognise the benefits to storing current electricity supply options and reducing the strain on the coal powered electricity generation supply at peak usage times.

However, although many people are saying they will wait until the price of batteries has come down, similar to the massive decrease in solar panels, there have been a number of studies done that prove that this will actually cost you money. When you work out the amount of money you will save on electricity costs over the next few years this will, in fact, be more than the expected decrease in the price of batteries.

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Highlighting the features of our Sodium Nickel Chloride battery

Posted on by Linda

John describing some of the features of our Sodium Nickel Chloride battery at a recent display at Warragul.FIAMM SoNick battery display

This was a local sustainability group that already had a degree of knowledge of alternative energy solutions and the SoNick battery met with a lot of interest.

Amongst other things, people were impressed with the very high embodied energy contained in the small footprint of the battery with 10 Kw in a battery of only 55 cm x 50 cm x 32 cm.

 

The FIAMM SoNick battery on display at Ian Southall’s Renewable Energy Demonstration trailer

Posted on by Linda

One of the places you can sometimes see the FIAMM SoNick battery on display is at Ian Southall’s Renewable Energy SoNick-battery-displayDemonstration trailer.

The  REDT travels around Gippsland in Victoria to various festivals and other venues, including schools, to educate people about renewable energies,  including school  children, with specially designed school programs.

The Renewable Energy Demonstration trailer (REDT) is integrated with up-to-date technology which allows combinations of stand- alone, off-grid and energy storage options to drive a computer modelling system. This then promotes programs and teachings on sustainability and energy efficiencies to be displayed on the interactive screens installed in the trailer. You can “Boil the Billy” from solar PV, “Fan yourself” with power from the wind turbine, or “Light your Life” with LEDs using a bicycle to provide power. The Renewable Energy Demonstration trailer can store enough energy in the deep cell batteries “ON BOARD” – enough to power a house over night or even operate an event site during the day.

The Renewable Energy Demonstration trailer (REDT) is now promoting the FIAMM SoNick battery technology as the premium battery now available on the Australian market and when possible has an actual battery on display to encourage community engagement with this battery technology. Continue reading “The FIAMM SoNick battery on display at Ian Southall’s Renewable Energy Demonstration trailer” →

Who is GridEdge?

Posted on by Linda

GridEdge battery storage

GridEdge is a boutique renewable energy supplier that uses the FIAMM SoNick battery.

GridEdge delivers both off grid and on  grid energy supply to all levels of consumer demand. We have the FIAMM SoNick battery and the GridEdge Quantum unit for residential and small business needs that can operate as a hybrid solution or a completely off grid installation. GridEdge also has container solutions, in various sizes,  which can replace the need for expensive and noisy diesel generators or can provide power for a micro-grid or remote installation.

GridEdge is the Australian distributor for the FIAMM SoNick battery. FIAMM are the market leader for the Sodium Nickel Chloride technology (SoNick) and offers batteries and storage solutions, that are scalable for all sizes, ranging from residential FIAMM SoNick batteryor industrial through to national utility applications.

The SoNick technology is not a new untried technology and has been in use in many countries of the world for over 10 years and is just now becoming available in Australia. Continue reading “Who is GridEdge?” →

GridEdge News – what is it about

Posted on by Linda

GridEdge News
This blog will be about renewable energy  and in particular energy storage.

Increasingly, in 2016, and beyond battery storage to add on to your solar panels will be an increasingly popular topic and is a very popular topic in the media. To a large extent this is due to Tesla and Elon Musk’s efforts to make Tesla’s Powerwall a household name in Australia. This has certainly raised the profile of battery storage and all it’s advantages for Australian households and businesses but many consumers are aware having the best advertising doesn’t necessarily mean you are producing the best product.

At the same time it is often difficult for people that are not involved in the renewable energy industry to be able to compare the different technologies that are available an make informed decisions on what is the best energy storage solution for them. For people that are involved it is hard enough with the changes that are happening every day.
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