February 25, 2021: A new solar plus storage project with bipolar lead batteries has been launched with Gridtential and Electric Applications Incorporated, supported by the Consortium for Battery Innovation, CBI said on February 25.

The ‘plug and play’ project is looking at developing solar-powered storage to meet increased demand in residential energy storage in the US.

It will use Gridtential’s silicon joule bipolar battery technology where silicon wafers are inserted in traditional lead batteries and so can reduce weight and enhance performance to lithium-ion battery levels at a lower cost, the CBI says.

The research will comprise mini-systems using silicon joule batteries being built, while EAI develops an optimized charge scheme to replicate actual storage systems.

“Demand reduction and renewable energy storage applications are a booming market for advanced lead batteries and the most popular in the residential sector,” said CBI technical manager Matt Raiford.