Zinc Bromide Flow Battery Installation for Islanding and Backup Power
EW-201242
Objective
Improving energy security and reducing consumption are key strategic objectives of the Department of Defense (DoD). Commercial power grid vulnerabilities and intermittencies of available renewable resources pose challenges to DoD’s objectives. Low cost, large-scale energy storage systems (ESS) are potential solutions to overcome these challenges. Energy storage may enable off-grid "islanding," improving energy security through grid-independent operation.
The objective of this project is to demonstrate the energy security and cost benefits of implementing a zinc bromide (Zn/Br) flow battery-based ESS at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar. Raytheon will lead a project to integrate innovative Zn/Br flow battery and Intelligent Energy Command and Control (IEC2) technologies with the existing MCAS infrastructure to increase energy security, provide an islanding capability, and reduce energy use and costs.
Technology Description
While multiple commercial ESS options exist, current solutions do not provide the low cost storage capacity with the added safety needed for transition to DoD. By incorporating innovative Zn/Br charging algorithms, intelligent power management, and simple cell construction, the proposed Zn/Br ESS may demonstrate the low-cost energy storage capable of deep discharge levels, high reliability, scalability, and operational safety needed to realize implementation across DoD facilities. The demonstration will integrate Premium Power's Zn/Br flow battery with MCAS Miramar's renewable energy (RE) sources and Raytheon's IEC2 technology. MCAS Miramar's photovoltaic (PV) panels provide the RE; Premium Power's Zn/Br battery stores and intelligently manages the energy; and Raytheon's IEC2 monitors and controls the overall system. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) will provide facility energy analysis and data interpretation.
Benefits
MCAS Miramar is striving to be a DoD Net Zero facility. The military installation has significant existing RE infrastructure and is therefore an ideal site to demonstrate the Zn/Br ESS technology. The demonstration connects MCAS buildings to the ESS, enabling the buildings to receive power while off-grid or "islanded" when operating with the ESS and RE system under controlled conditions. This may improve the base's energy security from vulnerabilities of the utility grid (e.g., cyber or physical attack, natural disaster, or technical malfunction). The demonstration will also show how the ESS can reduce energy costs through implementation of optimal charging and discharging schedules. The results may support broad acceptance of the Zn/Br ESS technology across DoD facilities. (Anticipated Project Completion - 2015)
Points of Contact
Document Types
- Fact Sheet - Brief project summary with links to related documents and points of contact.
- Final Report - Comprehensive report for every completed SERDP and ESTCP project that contains all technical results.
- Cost & Performance Report - Overview of ESTCP demonstration activities, results, and conclusions, standardized to facilitate implementation decisions.
- Technical Report - Additional interim reports, laboratory reports, demonstration reports, and technology survey reports.
- Guidance - Instructional information on technical topics such as protocols and user’s guides.
- Workshop Report - Summary of workshop discussion and findings.
- Multimedia - On demand videos, animations, and webcasts highlighting featured initiatives or technologies.
- Model/Software - Computer programs and applications available for download.
- Database - Digitally organized collection of data available to search and access.