The world’s first-ever high energy storage device, a thermal battery, was unveiled in Andhra Pradesh on Monday. This first-of-its-kind revolutionary and disruptive technology was patented by Dr. Patrick Glynn in 2016 in India.
Manufactured by the Bharat Energy Storage Technology Private Limited (BEST) is aimed at boosting up renewable sources of energy production, instead of non-renewable fossil fuel-based energy generation.
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The technology is best suited for grid balancing and stabilisations. It will also be used to store energy for telecommunication, commercial establishments, electric vehicles and highway charging stations. It can also be effectively used in remote locations, such as hilly terrains and islands.
The BEST also aims to set up a Greenfield facility in Andhra Pradesh to manufacture these batteries. It is expected to invest Rs 660 crores and create employment for 3,000 people within three years’ time.
From a capacity of 1000 megawatts, BEST would enhance to 10 gigawatts over next six to seven years. Batteries suited for telecommunications, mini or microgrids and electric buses would be manufactured in the first phase.
Existing energy storage technologies depend on Lithium-based batteries, which are limited by life cycles, making it a very expensive proposition with replacements needed every six to seven years. They are also low on energy density and need a high footprint.
BEST’s High Energy Density Storage (HEDS) device is a revolutionary technology. Lithium’s sensitivity to extreme temperatures requires the energy storage systems to be placed in conditioned temperatures, requiring about eight to ten per cent energy storage for the cause.
What sets this storage device apart is the fact that it requires a small footprint and is priced at par with Lithium-based solutions, which have limited life cycles.
Under the project, electric buses, produced in collaboration with Bilva Motors, a global consortium, could deliver an 800-kilometre range with a single charge, with the help of BEST’s thermal cells. The cell can be customised to be charged in four or eight hours, depending on the source. It can also provide output ranging between 5Kwh and 1 Mwh.
The plant in Andhra Pradesh is expected to start its commercial operations by May 2019