Press Release 146/2012

Stabilizing Grids with Batteries and Hydrogen

At the Battery and Storage and f-cell Fairs Starting on October 8 in Stuttgart, KIT Will Present Latest Battery Storage Systems and Hydrogen Safety Technology

Energy from regenerative sources may fluctuate strongly in the course of the day. Storage systems are required for the reliable supply of consumers with electricity. Batteries and hydrogen are two very promising options. In the next week, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) will present latest developments in these fields at the fairs Battery and Storage and f-cell (stand 1C14): A prototype stationary battery storage system of 50 kilo-watt-hours capacity and concepts for the safe handling of hydrogen.

Solar Power Day and Night
“High-performance batteries based on lithium ions can be used in the electricity grid today already,” says Dr. Andreas Gutsch, coordinator of the Competence E project. As stationary systems, they can store solar or wind power until consumption. “If used properly, batteries can balance load and production peaks to a larger extent and, hence, make sense from an economic point of view.”

The Competence E project is presently developing several pilot systems that combine photovoltaic and wind energy plants with a lithium-ion battery. The first stage of these modular systems will be built on KIT Campus North by the end of 2012. System capacity will amount to 50 kilowatt-hours. The complete system of the first stage will be able to cover annual consumption of a medium-sized commercial enterprise. In the long term, the know-how obtained will be used to develop both small storage systems for private households and larger modular systems for industrial needs.

Further information is available at:
http://www.kit.edu/visit/pi_2012_11590.php


Hydrogen Safety
Hydrogen can be used as an energy carrier for the chemical storage of electricity from e.g. solar and wind power by electrolysis. By reversing the electrolysis process in a fuel cell or by combustion, the thus stored energy can be made available again. However, hydrogen differs largely from the better known energy carriers of benzene, natural gas or biomass in terms of properties. This has to be considered when handling hydrogen. KIT studies hydrogen properties as well as their impacts on hydrogen handling and technical processes in a hydrogen economy. The findings are incorporated in concepts for the safe handling of this new energy carrier.  


For further information, click:
http://www.iket.kit.edu/english/146.php


The web portals of the fairs:
http://www.f-cell.de/
http://www.messestuttgart.de/cms/index.php?id=135430&L=1

 

Being “The Research University in the Helmholtz Association”, KIT creates and imparts knowledge for the society and the environment. It is the objective to make significant contributions to the global challenges in the fields of energy, mobility, and information. For this, about 10,000 employees cooperate in a broad range of disciplines in natural sciences, engineering sciences, economics, and the humanities and social sciences. KIT prepares its 22,800 students for responsible tasks in society, industry, and science by offering research-based study programs. Innovation efforts at KIT build a bridge between important scientific findings and their application for the benefit of society, economic prosperity, and the preservation of our natural basis of life. KIT is one of the German universities of excellence.

kes, 02.10.2012
Contact:


Christian Könemann
Chief Press Officer
Phone: +49 721 608-41105
Fax: +49 721 608-43658
christian koenemann does-not-exist.kit edu

Contact for this press release:

Kosta Schinarakis
Press Officer
Phone: +49 721 608-21165
Fax: +49 721 608-43658
E-Mail:schinarakis does-not-exist.kit edu


The press release is available as a PDF file.