April 25, 2019: Matt Raiford has been appointed technical head of the Consortium for Battery Innovation. Speaking to BESB on April 24, he said lead batteries stood ready to enter a golden age of growth and entry into multiple markets.
Raiford moves into the position at the North Carolina, US-based CBI from RSR Technologies, where he was senior process engineer.
“Lead batteries are on a precipice of intense growth, with energy storage demand growing in multiple markets,” he said. “Energy storage systems will be key in providing stable utility, commercial, and consumer level energy demands.
“Also, energy storage is increasing in automotive and industrial sectors. As part of CBI, I will aim to support lead batteries entering into these new markets by fostering world-class research programmes for these applications and also increasing awareness and supporting the industry’s increasing ESS efforts.
“These new applications provide promising pathways for the lead battery industry to provide high performing, sustainable and cost effective solutions. This demand, in my eyes, forecasts an upcoming golden age for lead batteries.
“Much of my work will be based around supporting and helping develop standards for the design and requirements for additional batteries in automotive vehicles and in other applications, managing our new research programme and supporting the ESS effort through multiple platforms.”
Raiford was instrumental in ground-breaking work by RSR using the Advanced Photon Source synchrotron, housed at the Argonne National Laboratory, which resulted in the development of its patented Supersoft-Hycyle soft lead alloy.
Testing by South African battery firm Auto-X, the maker of the Willard brand of battery, showed that the alloy doubled the active material of its lead acid batteries and greatly reduced water loss.
CBI changed its name from ALABC — the Advanced Lead Acid Battery Consortium — last year, and has launched a series of events and projects to push innovation in the industry.
It aims to bring together research institutes, universities, lead battery companies, suppliers and lead producers and keep its members updated with technological advances and developments. These include the aid of an interactive roadmap which will be showcased at BCI next week.
