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The Multi-Purpose Battery
BERLIN and TOKYO, February 23, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --
If the phrase 'M5BAT' sounds a little bit like a cross between a high-performance car
engine and a nocturnal flying mammal, the truth is a little more grounded, although no
less innovative.
A joint project between energy provider E.On's Energy Research Center at RWTH Aachen
University, battery produces Exide and Beta Motion, and inverter producer SMA Solar
Technology, M5BAT - Modular Multi-megawatt, Multi-technology Medium-Voltage Battery
Storage System to give it its full name - it is an attempt to increase the potential
storage and usage capacity of a battery by combining existing technologies.
The project was financed by the then Ministry of Economics and Technology's (BMWi -
now Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy) battery storage incentive program to the tune
of EUR 6.5m. German Economic Minister Sigmar Gabriel's recent speech stating a resolute
intent to get battery technology and production up to speed in the country has no doubt
provided extra impetus.
"Germany's aptitude to innovative thinking and the capacity for research and
development in such fields is well-represented by this program and the results are now
emerging," said Heiko Staubitz, Senior Manager Smart Grid and Energy Storage at Germany
Trade & Invest.
M5BAT is a combination of battery technologies in modular form. Lithium-ion batteries
take care of immediate power requirements, high-temperature batteries take care of longer
power needs over several hours while lead-acid batteries are used for power requirements
in between, up to an hour.
The unique modular system gives the potential users a huge degree of flexibility, but
it is primarily hoped that the system's adaptability will go some way to solving the
problem of managing the fluctuating power production from Germany's renewable energy
sources.
There are two Expos coming up in Japan this week, where Germany will be showcasing
their initiatives and incentives in battery and fuel cell development and production, as
well as the generous research investment conditions which helped the initiatives come
about. The Batteries Japan and the Fuel Cell Expo run from Wednesday to Friday
concurrently in Tokyo, Japan, as part of World Smart Energy Week. Germany Trade & Invest,
the country's inward investment and foreign trade promotion agency, will be there
providing information on the battery storage incentive program and the host of other
opportunities within the battery and fuel cell sector in Germany.
The M5BAT project is one of many running under the BMWi incentive program, which aims
to keep Germany at the forefront of battery technology as the country - and much of the
rest of the world - searches for solutions to the challenges of longer-distance
electromobility, fluctuating power sources and demand. Two of the other program-funded
projects will be connected to the power grid this year.
"Not only does the country want to be at the forefront of this technology, it also is
aiming to be at the forefront of the production of this technology," continued Staubitz.
"As Mr. Gabriel said, this industry was once a national mainstay, Germany is now
working hard to make it so again."
Germany Trade & Invest is the foreign trade and inward investment promotion agency of
the Federal Republic of Germany. The organization advises foreign companies looking to
expand their business activities in the German market. It provides information on foreign
trade to German companies that seek to enter foreign markets.
Andreas Bilfinger
Director
Public Relations
Germany Trade & Invest
- Gesellschaft für Aussenwirtschaft und Standortmarketing mbH
Headquarters
Friedrichstrasse 60
10117 Berlin
Germany
T. +49-30-200-099-170
F. +49-30-200-099-812
andreas.bilfinger@gtai.com
http://www.gtai.com
Germany Trade and Invest
The Multi-Purpose Battery
BERLIN and TOKYO, February 23, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --
If the phrase 'M5BAT' sounds a little bit like a cross between a high-performance car
engine and a nocturnal flying mammal, the truth is a little more grounded, although no
less innovative.
A joint project between energy provider E.On's Energy Research Center at RWTH Aachen
University, battery produces Exide and Beta Motion, and inverter producer SMA Solar
Technology, M5BAT - Modular Multi-megawatt, Multi-technology Medium-Voltage Battery
Storage System to give it its full name - it is an attempt to increase the potential
storage and usage capacity of a battery by combining existing technologies.
The project was financed by the then Ministry of Economics and Technology's (BMWi -
now Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy) battery storage incentive program to the tune
of EUR 6.5m. German Economic Minister Sigmar Gabriel's recent speech stating a resolute
intent to get battery technology and production up to speed in the country has no doubt
provided extra impetus.
"Germany's aptitude to innovative thinking and the capacity for research and
development in such fields is well-represented by this program and the results are now
emerging," said Heiko Staubitz, Senior Manager Smart Grid and Energy Storage at Germany
Trade & Invest.
M5BAT is a combination of battery technologies in modular form. Lithium-ion batteries
take care of immediate power requirements, high-temperature batteries take care of longer
power needs over several hours while lead-acid batteries are used for power requirements
in between, up to an hour.
The unique modular system gives the potential users a huge degree of flexibility, but
it is primarily hoped that the system's adaptability will go some way to solving the
problem of managing the fluctuating power production from Germany's renewable energy
sources.
There are two Expos coming up in Japan this week, where Germany will be showcasing
their initiatives and incentives in battery and fuel cell development and production, as
well as the generous research investment conditions which helped the initiatives come
about. The Batteries Japan and the Fuel Cell Expo run from Wednesday to Friday
concurrently in Tokyo, Japan, as part of World Smart Energy Week. Germany Trade & Invest,
the country's inward investment and foreign trade promotion agency, will be there
providing information on the battery storage incentive program and the host of other
opportunities within the battery and fuel cell sector in Germany.
The M5BAT project is one of many running under the BMWi incentive program, which aims
to keep Germany at the forefront of battery technology as the country - and much of the
rest of the world - searches for solutions to the challenges of longer-distance
electromobility, fluctuating power sources and demand. Two of the other program-funded
projects will be connected to the power grid this year.
"Not only does the country want to be at the forefront of this technology, it also is
aiming to be at the forefront of the production of this technology," continued Staubitz.
"As Mr. Gabriel said, this industry was once a national mainstay, Germany is now
working hard to make it so again."
Germany Trade & Invest is the foreign trade and inward investment promotion agency of
the Federal Republic of Germany. The organization advises foreign companies looking to
expand their business activities in the German market. It provides information on foreign
trade to German companies that seek to enter foreign markets.
Andreas Bilfinger
Director
Public Relations
Germany Trade & Invest
- Gesellschaft für Aussenwirtschaft und Standortmarketing mbH
Headquarters
Friedrichstrasse 60
10117 Berlin
Germany
T. +49-30-200-099-170
F. +49-30-200-099-812
andreas.bilfinger@gtai.com
http://www.gtai.com
Germany Trade and Invest