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mtvSolar and RAR Engineering Utilize Axion Power PbC® Batteries in Solar Off-Grid Systems
BY GlobeNewswire
— 9:30 AM ET 11/21/2016
NEW CASTLE, Pa., Nov. 21, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Axion Power International, Inc. ( AXPW ) today announced that two remote solar powered off-grid applications are graduating from bench top testing to deployment in the field with Mountain View Solar (mtvSolar) in Berkeley Spring, W.Va. and RAR Engineering in New Castle, Pa. Total worldwide revenue from off-grid remote power systems is expected to reach $1.5 billion annually by 2020 according to Navigant Research1.
The application with Mountain View Solar is an FAA mandated tower lighting system. Low voltage power is required to light the beacon at the top of a structure, and utility power is not readily available. Installing an off-grid solar powered battery system offers a solution. The application is particularly demanding on the battery system during the winter months due to sub-zero temperatures, low light and the requirement of the light to remain lit, at the expense of the batteries.
"In preparation for field deployment in an off-grid FAA lighting system for a major utility, mtvSolar conducted demanding bench tests of the Axion carbon batteries over a period of three months. Testing included a discharge to levels that would have destroyed normal AGM or GEL batteries. We've witnessed string self-balancing and full recovery from excessive discharge. That said, we feel confident in deploying this technology,” said Cevyn L. Miles-Monaghan, Solar Energy System Specialist, mtvSolar.
The application with RAR Engineering is an off-grid ground water remediation system. Axion designed and built the energy storage system that is implemented within a portable treatment system. The system harnesses solar energy and stores it in Axion’s PbC batteries for use when the solar resource is not capable of supporting the load. RAR Engineering designed and built the pumping, filtration and skid mount that is currently being field tested. To date, the system has treated 17,000 gallons of ground water contaminated with MTBE.
“The ability to operate a cost effective off grid remediation system was the goal of this project. With the help of the professionals at Axion, the system went from a concept to a functioning system within a few months,” said Kyle S. Griffith, Professional Geologist, RAR Engineering. “Now that the system is operational, our efforts will concentrate on producing innovative treatment additions with the goal of increasing efficiency and, in turn, decreasing the time spent with active remediation.”
The mtvSolar and RAR off grid power systems share design attributes similar to the solar light kit that was released by Axion in May of this year. All three of the applications draw on the unique features and benefits of the PbC battery technology. Additional applications, such as weather stations, gas well and pipeline telemetry, security cameras or other monitoring equipment in remote locations can benefit from PbC battery technology.
“Both applications can operate over the entire voltage range of the PbC Battery, and the batteries freeze tolerance when discharged is a distinct advantage over traditional lead acid battery,” said Jack Shindle, Vice President of Engineering, Axion Power. “These features combined with the PbC battery’s high cycle life, rapid recharge, partial state of charge performance and stability in series strings make it an ideal energy storage solution for these applications.”
