A123 Systems (Nasdaq:AONE), a developer and manufacturer of advanced Nanophosphate® lithium iron phosphate batteries and systems, today announced the expansion of its portfolio of Grid Storage Solutions (GSS). A123's GSS product line now includes high-rate and long-duration systems ranging from kilowatt-scale to hundreds of megawatts, enabling customers to deploy a complete, turnkey storage solution that meets their specific power and energy requirements. A123 will showcase its industry-leading grid energy storage solutions at the ESA Annual Meeting, May 2-4, 2012, Washington, DC (booth #210).
"A123 Systems is the world's leading provider of lithium ion battery solutions for grid-scale energy storage, and our experience in deploying systems for customers worldwide has given us great insight into how utilities expect storage solutions to integrate with their existing systems," said Robert Johnson, vice president of the Energy Solutions Group at A123. "We have applied the knowledge we have gained through this experience to expand our product offerings, which we believe will enable us to capitalize on the growing global grid energy storage market and augment our leadership position in this segment."
The modular architecture and flexible design of A123's GSS optimize performance and increases system efficiency to increase the stability and reliability of the grid while enabling the seamless integration of renewable power sources. A123's fully integrated, grid-ready GSS are designed as complete solutions capable of achieving greater than 90 percent AC to DC to AC roundtrip efficiency. Each GSS consists of a Grid Battery System (GBS), AEROS™ software and a Power Conversion System.
The GBS is based on modular, rack-integrated energy storage units which serve as the building blocks for easily configurable high-rage and long-duration systems designed to meet application-specific requirements. A123's GBSs are available with onboard touch screen control panels, heat and smoke detection, and fire suppression to provide customers with the necessary infrastructure to integrate the GSS with their existing systems. In addition to A123's standard containerized GBS units available in 20-foot, 40-foot and 53-foot lengths, A123's rack-integrated battery systems can be deployed in buildings or other custom enclosures.
In addition to the Grid Battery System, the GSS feature A123's Energy Response Operating System (AEROS), the company's proprietary software designed to deliver full command and control functionality for seamless integration with existing utility systems. AEROS is designed to increase the efficiency and optimize the performance of the energy storage system by enabling automated command and control with built-in secure protocols, real time reporting of systems capabilities and performance, millisecond response times and multiple operating modes to optimize customers' application requirements. A123's GSS are also equipped with high-efficiency power inverters that convert DC to AC and AC to DC to provide real and reactive power as well as bidirectional energy flow to the grid.