September 20, 2025: A lead battery energy storage system installed at a US university has been shown to be the missing link in carbon-neutral electricity generation, according to a case study by Stryten Energy.
The multi-battery-tech company said in a case study released on September 9 the lead BESS, deployed in a ‘living lab’ setting on the campus of the Georgia Institute of Technology, is being put through its paces for behind-the-meter cycling applications.
With its additional components and software, the BESS is capable of bi-directional charging, allowing current to flow into the battery for charging and out of the battery to power the grid or microgrid.
Georgia Tech wanted to take the next step in achieving its carbon-neutral initiatives and with existing solar panels available, they needed a cycling BESS that could store and discharge renewable energy, Stryten said.
The university is now measuring performance to identify energy peak-shaving opportunities and provide power across the campus.
Stryten said the BESS, installed at the Carbon Neutral Energy Solutions Laboratory, which houses the university’s Strategic Energy Institute (SEI), was chosen because it was cost-effective and a proven and safe technology with high discharge rates with high efficiency.
The system is a sustainable grid support tool, providing rapid response capabilities to mitigate fluctuations, stabilize voltage and enhance overall grid resilience while seamlessly integrating renewable energy sources into the power mix and reducing environmental impact, Stryten said.
Richard Simmons, director of research and studies at the SEI, said the BESS is an enabling piece of the distributed energy resources puzzle.
“At the CNES lab, Georgia Tech researchers can now control charging and discharging cycles for the battery in coordination with the existing solar PV array and the new EV charging test bed.”
Simmons said this research tool will allow the time-shifting of peak solar input by several hours to meet late afternoon building loads and store renewable energy for the overnight charging of campus vehicles.
