Energy storage

Fuel cells

Acal Energy
Cheshire, UK.
Founded 2004
Employees: 22
Product description: Proton exchange membrane fuel cell systems

New technologies such as Acal Energy’s low-cost proton exchange membrane fuel cell systems are gradually replacing traditional combustion engines. The Runcorn-based company believes it is now the world leader in this market. It promises substantial cost savings and performance improvements to clients through this clean, quiet and efficient technology which was also a crucial feature of the Gemini space missions, the first manned US flights outside the earth’s atmosphere. Acal’s systems are powered by its proprietary platinum-free cathode technology (FlowCath). Other projects include modules and consumable chemicals for a range of uses, including stationary, residential and automotive applications requiring more than 1kw of power.

Bloom Energy
California, US.
Founded 2002
Employees: 170
Product description: Fuel cells

Famously secretive about its research, Bloom Energy always attracts interest for what its co-founder, K.R. Sridhar, did in the past – as an aerospace engineering professor he developed a device for NASA to turn carbon dioxide into oxygen on Mars. Bloom Energy is now engaged in designing solid-oxide fuel cells, which could allow electricity generation in the home. Since it launched seven years ago, Bloom Energy has said little about its technology and when it will be commercially available, thereby probably guaranteeing any announcement will be scrutinised throughout the scientific world.

Electro Power Systems
Turin, Italy.
Founded 2005
Employees: 40
Product description: Hydrogen fuel cell systems

Fuel cell technology has come into its own as a power source in remote locations such as space and large nature reserves. Hydrogen-powered systems are particularly portable because they are compact and lightweight. For this reason, Electro Power Systems expects the self-rechargeable system it is about to launch to become widely and rapidly used in emerging markets. The company has developed a family of hydrogen fuel cell systems for back-up power. These are used in both replacement and new installations. Key benefits are zero emissions and cost savings over more traditional systems. It is also just about to start operations in Asia.

EnStorage
Zichron Yaacov, Israel.
Founded 2007
Employees: 5
Product description: Fuel cell storage

EnStorage is developing energy storage systems through which, for instance, solar energy companies can produce uninterrupted supply even when the sun is not shining. It believes its proprietary fuel cell technology is “smaller, more efficient and lower-cost than state-of-the-art energy storage systems in the market”. The technology also works with wind-power plants and for dealing with demand management in conventional power grids. EnStorage products are based on technology developed at Tel-Aviv University.

Advanced batteries

A123 Systems
Massachusetts, US. Founded 2001
Employees: 1,800
Product description: Advanced batteries

One of the world’s leading suppliers of high-power lithium-ion batteries, A123 specialises in transport, electric grid and portable power manufacturing. It is working with Chrysler, for instance, on battery modules and battery packs for Chrysler’s range-extended electric vehicle and battery-only electric vehicle production programmes. In China, it is providing the batteries to power a new hybrid car in Shanghai, the SAIC Hybrid electric vehicle due out next year.

Boston-Power
Massachusetts US.
Founded 2005
Employees: 100
Product description: Advanced batteries

Dependable, long-life, safe, environmentally-sustainable, portable batteries – these are what Boston-Power plans to mass-produce. So far it has begun making rechargeable lithium-ion cells for laptops, electric cars and industrial equipment. Its next-generation batteries will also be able to recharge to 80% capacity in 30 minutes. HP, which uses Boston-Power’s Sonata battery, led the way in the industry in offering three-year battery warranties on its notebooks because of the long-life these cells offer.

Deeya Energy
California, US.
Founded 2006
Employees: 120
Product description: Advanced batteries

With bases in India and California’s Silicon Valley, Deeya Energy is a developer and manufacturer of electrical energy storage systems. Its core innovation, the L-Cell, is based on a novel battery technology originally developed by NASA as a potential energy storage method for long-term space flights. Its ESP 24K product is designed to provide critical infrastructure support for lowavailability service areas, and at a lower cost than other options. This alternative to lead-acid batteries is in use among telecommunications customers. It has a design life of 20 years, with services every five years, and requires minimal maintenance.

Imara
California, US.
Founded 1999
Employees: 35
Product description: Advanced batteries

Cordless power drills and lawn mowers are among the items being powered by Imara’s battery technology. The company is developing compact, lightweight, cost-effective lithium-ion batteries to accelerate the adoption of green technology. Imara’s products are based on patented materials that deliver the best combination of power and energy with long life and are designed to be safer for the environment than available alternatives.

Pentadyne Power
Chatsworth, California, US.
Founded 1998
Employees: 48
Product description: Flywheel batteries

For businesses reliant on major IT networks and servers, a split-second drop in power can cost millions. To avoid computing catastrophes, many firms adopt expensive, uninterruptable power supplies using back-up generators and banks of lead acid batteries. Pentadyne’s clean-energy, high-speed carbon fibre flywheel system works like a dynamic battery, storing energy kinetically by spinning a mass about an axis. With near-zero maintenance, this “mechanical battery” has no health and safety hazards, is insensitive to temperature fluctuations and is environmentally responsible.

ReVolt
Zurich, Switzerland.
Founded 2004
Employees: 34
Product description: Zinc-air battery systems

Lithium-ion, found in mobile phones and watches, is the leader in mobile battery technologies, but ReVolt believes its nontoxic Zinc-Air battery systems have an energy density two to three times higher than that of lithium-ion, as well as being low-cost, safe and green. Previously, most metal-air batteries have not been rechargeable and only delivered low power, but ReVolt claims it has solved these issues, ensuring a sustainable power source for the next generation of electric cars, laptops and phones.