中國儲能網(wǎng)訊：長時儲能——定義為可存儲電力超過10小時的能量系統(tǒng)——通常被稱為清潔能源的圣杯，它是支撐經(jīng)濟真正依靠間歇性可再生能源源和電網(wǎng)中斷后備用電力的關鍵技術。
Long-duration energy storage — defined as a system that can store energy for more than 10 hours — is often called the Holy Grail of clean energy. It is the linchpin technology that will allow the economy to truly run off intermittent renewable energy sources and backup power after grid disruptions.
它已經(jīng)成為未來20年的下一個重大技術里程碑。
It’s been the Next Big Thing for about 20 years. But maybe, just maybe, it really is the next big thing right now.
2022年7月,美國能源部啟動了一項行動規(guī)劃,計劃在2030年前將長時儲能成本降低90%,作為其“能源計劃”的一部分。
In July, the Department of Energy launched an effort to push down costs of long-duration energy storage by 90 percent by 2030 as part of its Energy Earthshot Initiative.
“我們將在未來幾年向電網(wǎng)引入數(shù)百GW的清潔能源,我們需要能夠在任何時間和地點使用這種能源,”能源部長詹妮弗·格蘭霍姆在一份聲明中說?！斑@就是為什么能源部正積極致力于更廉價、更長時間的儲能,以實現(xiàn)拜登總統(tǒng)設定的2035年前100%清潔電力的目標?！?
“We’re going to bring hundreds of gigawatts of clean energy onto the grid over the next few years, and we need to be able to use that energy wherever and whenever it’s needed,” Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm said in a statement. “That’s why DOE is working aggressively toward cheaper, longer-duration energy storage to reach President [Joe] Biden’s goal of 100 percent clean electricity by 2035.”
無論是由于“能源計劃”的宣布,還是由于恰當?shù)臅r機選擇,在過去一個月中,各種使用長時儲能新技術并承諾低成本的儲能創(chuàng)業(yè)公司吸引了大量投資。以下是過去三周的五項重大公告以及它們技術的獨特之處。
Whether a result of the Earthshot announcement or simply good timing, in the last month, big investors have backed a variety of energy storage startups using new technologies and promising low costs. Here are five major announcements from the last three weeks, and what makes their technologies unique.
Energy Vault
新聞:2022年8月25日,Energy Vault宣布獲得1億美元C輪融資,由Prime Movers Lab牽頭,沙特阿美和Softbank基金跟投。在該消息之后,Energy Vault宣布與Novus Capital II的另類收購公司(SPAC)交易,該交易使該儲能公司進入紐約證券交易所。根據(jù)新聞稿,合并后公司的企業(yè)市值為11億美元。
The news: On Aug. 25, Energy Vault announced $100 million in Series C funding, led by Prime Movers Lab alongside Saudi Aramco and Softbank Vision Fund. Following that news, Energy Vault announced a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) with Novus Capital II in a deal that landed the energy storage venture on the New York Stock Exchange. The pro-forma enterprise value of the combined company is $1.1 billion, according to a press release.
技術:基于重力的電網(wǎng)側儲能，該系統(tǒng)利用多余的可再生能源提升磚塊,然后在峰值需求期間降低磚塊以產(chǎn)生能量——所有這些都由AI軟件控制并且是自動執(zhí)行的。
The technology: gravity-based, grid-scale energy storage. The system uses excess renewable energy to raise bricks, then lowers the bricks to generate energy during peak demand — all controlled by AI software and executed autonomously.
價值:一種在35年技術使用壽命內(nèi)成本效益高、可靠、安全且環(huán)保可持續(xù)的儲能系統(tǒng)。
Value proposition: An energy storage system that is cost-efficient, reliable, safe to operate and environmentally sustainable over a 35-year technical life.
部署:Energy Vault表示它有8個項目在構建中,總計1.2GWh的儲能容量,計劃在美國、歐洲、中東和澳大利亞進行部署。
Deployment status: Energy Vault says it has eight projects in the pipeline for a total of 1.2 gigawatt-hours of energy storage capacity, with deployments planned for the U.S., Europe, Middle East and Australia.
FlexGen Power Systems
新聞:2022年8月25日,FlexGen Power Systems宣布獲得Apollo Global Management管理的基金1.5億美元股權投資。
The news: On Aug. 25, FlexGen Power Systems announced a $150 million equity commitment from funds managed by Apollo Global Management.
技術:FlexGen承諾提供電網(wǎng)規(guī)模和微電網(wǎng)儲能,并與能源管理軟件集成。該公司于2009年開始為軍方提供儲能服務。
The technology: FlexGen promises grid-scale and microgrid energy storage, integrated with energy management software. The company got its start in 2009 providing energy storage to the military.
價值:集成軟件以實現(xiàn)儲能資產(chǎn)的“最優(yōu)性能”。該公司認為儲能的價值在于硬件和軟件之間的連接。
The value proposition: Integrated software to reach “peak asset performance.” The company sees the value of energy storage as the connection between the hardware and software to optimize performance.
部署:該公司網(wǎng)站上列出了20多個公用事業(yè)規(guī)模的儲能項目,主要位于得克薩斯州,提供負載平移和輔助服務。
Deployment status: The company has more than 20 utility-scale energy storage projects listed on its website, primarily in Texas, which provides load shifting and ancillary services.
EnerVenue
新聞:2022年9月15日,EnerVenue宣布獲得1億美元A輪融資——對于如此早期的創(chuàng)業(yè)公司來說是一筆巨額資金。Schlumberger New Energy領投,沙特阿美能源風險投資等跟投。
The news: On Sept. 15, EnerVenue announced a $100 million in Series A funding — a monster round for such an early-stage venture. Schlumberger New Energy led the investment, accompanied by Saudi Aramco Energy Ventures and others.
技術:鎳氫電池,可在極端高溫和低溫下運行,目前成本低于鋰離子電池。鎳氫也比鋰離子重,不太適合電動汽車,但可能是電網(wǎng)級儲能的一個不錯選擇。
The technology: Nickel-hydrogen batteries, which can operate in extreme heat and cold and are currently less expensive than lithium-ion cells. Nickel hydrogen is also heavier than lithium-ion, making it less ideal for electric vehicles, though potentially a good option for grid-scale storage.
價值:該公司承諾一個前期和運營成本低、持久耐用且靈活的儲能解決方案。它最初與NASA合作,為國際空間站和哈勃空間望遠鏡供電,公司認為這證明了該技術在極端條件下運行的能力。
Value proposition: The company promises an energy storage solution with low upfront and operational costs that is long-lasting and flexible. It got its start with NASA, powering the International Space Station and Hubble Space Telescope, which the company points to as evidence of the technology’s ability to perform in extreme conditions.
Malta
新聞:2022年8月25日,Malta宣布完成了6000萬美元B輪融資,雪佛龍科技風險投資和Piva Capital加入了Proman、Alfa Laval、Breakthrough Energy Ventures和Facebook聯(lián)合創(chuàng)始人扎克伯格的投資行列。
The news: On Aug. 25, Malta Inc announced it raised $60 million in Series B financing, backed by Chevron Technology Ventures and Piva Capital have joined Proman, Alfa Laval, Breakthrough Energy Ventures and Dustin Moskovitz, a Facebook co-founder.
技術:Malta使用一種稱為抽蓄熱儲能的電熱技術,這是由X(原Google X)開發(fā)的。它的工作原理是將電能轉換為熱能,將熱量儲存在熔融鹽中,將冷量儲存在冷卻液中。然后它利用由溫差驅動的熱機發(fā)電。
The technology: Malta uses an electro-thermal technology that it calls a pumped heat energy storage system, developed out of X, the Moonshot Factory (formerly Google X). It works by converting electrical energy into thermal energy, storing the heat in molten salt and cold in chilled liquid. It then uses a heat engine, powered by the temperature differential, back to electricity.
價值:該技術具有長周期、電網(wǎng)級別且具有成本效益的儲能技術。公司稱其可以高效地儲存最多200小時的能量。Malta表示該技術也可用于產(chǎn)生工業(yè)過程熱。
Value proposition: The technology boasts a long-duration, grid-scale, cost-effective energy storage technology. The company says it can efficiently store up to 200 hours of energy. Malta says the technology can also be used to generate heat for industrial heat applications.
Form Energy
新聞:由特斯拉前員工創(chuàng)立的四年公司Form Energy在2022年8月24日完成了2.4億美元D輪融資,投資方包括鋼鐵公司ArcelorMittal。
The news: Form Energy, a four-year-old company founded by a former Tesla employee, closed $240 million in Series D financing Aug. 24, with investors including steel company ArcelorMittal.
技術:Form使用鐵-空氣電池,將鐵轉化為鐵銹,然后再將鐵銹轉化回鐵,在此過程中放電和充電電池。該公司稱其電池可儲存100小時的電力,系統(tǒng)成本可與傳統(tǒng)電廠媲美。
The technology: Form uses an iron-air battery, which converts iron to rust, then rust back into iron, discharging and charging the battery in the process. The company says that its battery can store electricity for 100 hours at system costs competitive with legacy power plants.
背景:Form Energy于2022年7月發(fā)布消息稱,其長時電池將在2025年準備好批量生產(chǎn)——價格僅為其他儲能系統(tǒng)的一小部分。盡管其他公司也做出過類似承諾,但Form Energy稱這次不同?！拔覀冎霸陔姵匦袠I(yè)創(chuàng)業(yè)失敗，想要東山再起,”公司聯(lián)合創(chuàng)始人之一姜宜明告訴《華爾街日報》。
The context: Form Energy made headlines in July when it announced its long-duration battery should be ready for mass production by 2025 — at a fraction of the price of other energy storage systems. While other companies have made similar promises, Form Energy says this time is different. “We’re the alumni of a generation of failed battery companies who all came back for more,” Yet-Ming Chiang, one of the company’s co-founders, told the Wall Street Journal.
一種廉價的、長時的儲能技術即將商業(yè)化。Form估計其儲能成本將低于6$/KWh,而鎳、鈷、鋰或錳礦物的成本為50-80$/KWh。
A cheap, long-duration energy storage source that is on the verge of commercialization. Form estimates it will spend less than $6 per kilowatt-hour of storage, compared to $50 to $80 per kWh of nickel, cobalt, lithium or manganese minerals.
