International Battery's new IBexus 24-volt Lithium-ion battery pack. (Photo: Business Wire)

Rechargeable Battery Pack is the Company’s First Standard System Offering

ALLENTOWN, Pa.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–International Battery (www.internationalbattery.com), a U.S. manufacturer, designer and developer of large-format Lithium-ion (Li-ion) rechargeable cells, batteries and energy storage systems (ESS), today announced the introduction of IBexus™ – a 24-Volt, 4.1 kWh Li-ion energy storage system well suited for storage of solar and other renewable energy sources.

“Our Renewable Source Control Center (RSCC) project will incorporate International Battery’s Li-ion battery technology with the idea of controlling and managing energy in a manner that reduces cost and helps alleviate the demand on the grid.”

The first of the IBexus product family, the new eight-cell 24V ESS has proven ideal as an evaluation module for several different projects with rechargeable energy storage requirements, ranging from sustainable home pilot projects to micro grid load shifting applications. The first commercialized stock keeping unit (SKU) of the IBexus – the IB 24V 008 ESS – is a 4.1 kilowatt hour system that contains eight 160Ah Lithium Iron Phosphate cells wired in series. The battery system comes standard with contactor, current shunt and thermal management controls. For easy communication, the system includes RS232, RS485, CANbus, Modbus or Ethernet communications, a PC graphical user interface (GUI) and data log functionality for communication with International Battery’s technical support resources. A comprehensive battery management system (BMS) maximizes cell performance, enhances safety and monitors/balances individual cells. A standard set of output parameters is included for quick delivery, although customized features and output can also be programmed. Other members of the IBexus product family will include 60 Ah cell capacity and 48V options.

“We are very excited to formally launch our new energy storage system to the marketplace,” said International Battery’s Vice President Business Development, John Battaglini. “The initial response to the product’s features and performance has been tremendous and we look forward to further developing additional products within the IBexus product line. Customers are finding that our large-format lithium battery systems are a great alternative to lead-acid batteries based on increased energy density, improved cycle life and robust performance across a wider temperature range.”

The IBexus battery system is currently being evaluated by Drexel University’s Department of Electric & Computer Engineering’s Center for Electrical Power Engineering (CEPOE) in Philadelphia. Students are analyzing demand response by evaluating a scaled down model of a residential grid-tied 1.5 kilowatt solar array and smart inverter that will compare real-time electric rates and regulate usage based on lowest market rates. “This is a running test to validate the features and benefits of Lithium-ion energy storage compared to lead acid batteries,” said Chika Nwankpa, professor and director at Drexel University. “Our Renewable Source Control Center (RSCC) project will incorporate International Battery’s Li-ion battery technology with the idea of controlling and managing energy in a manner that reduces cost and helps alleviate the demand on the grid.”

International Battery’s large-format prismatic rechargeable Li-ion batteries are the perfect choice for renewable applications requiring energy storage in a compact and modular scalable architecture. To this end, WINDFREE, a provider of sustainable and renewable energy systems in Chicago, is currently evaluating the new IBexus system for a variety of alternative applications. “Right now, we’re in the process of developing an off-grid system for a residential home near Lake Superior incorporating solar panels and liquid propane (LP) gas co-generators to run the home’s vital appliances and well pumps,” said Doug Snower, founder of WINDFREE. “We expect the evaluation of International Battery’s new 24-volt IBexus to validate the product’s performance to meet the requirements of our off-grid residential projects.” In addition to this project, WINDFREE will display the energy storage system at its demonstration center located in Wicker Park, Chicago. The center will help to educate and demonstrate how to save money on grid-tied and off-grid solutions including smart meters. “We’re pleased to showcase International Battery’s compact Li-ion battery for live renewable solution demonstrations to consumers. The IBexus system will be charged by windmills and solar panels mounted on our building. This will be our first demonstration of an AC/DC power system with an inverter and Li-ion battery pack.”

The IBexus unit features robust thermal and cycling performance as well as easy system expandability and comprehensive battery management. Moreover, these Li-ion cells offer quick charge times, small footprint, lighter weight, excellent cycle life and very low maintenance.

Made in the U.S., International Battery’s Li-ion batteries are easily scalable from kilowatt-hours to megawatt-hours and are ideal for Smart Grid, utility energy storage, diurnal energy storage, industrial, military, and land/sea transportation applications. Employing a unique environmentally friendly, water-based manufacturing process, International Battery’s ISO 9001:2008 certified Li-ion batteries meet a wide array of energy storage needs and offer several cell chemistries that are UN Transport certified for shipments globally.

The IBexus 24V module is available now. For more information and ordering, contact International Battery at (610) 366-3925 or contact sales@internationalbattery.com.

About International Battery

Headquartered in Allentown, Pa., International Battery (www.internationalbattery.com) is a U.S. manufacturer, designer, and developer of large-format Lithium-ion rechargeable cells and batteries for use in a wide range of transportation, industrial, electric utility, smart grid and military applications, employing a uniquely environmentally friendly manufacturing process.

In addition to historical information, this release may contain forward-looking statements. International Battery may, from time-to-time, make written or oral forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements encompass International Battery’s beliefs, expectations, hopes or intentions regarding future events. Words such as “expects,” “intends,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “should,” “likely” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements included in this release are made as of the date hereof and are based on information available to International Battery as of such date. International Battery assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement. Actual results may vary, and may vary materially, from those anticipated, estimated, projected or expected for a number of reasons.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6490718&lang=en

By Elsa Wenzel, PC World

Keeping mobile phones and other portable electronics charged is a hassle if you make frequent business trips or work in multiple locations. Inevitably, your smartphone’s battery dies far from a power source just when you need to make a crucial call or get directions to a meeting.

A portable charger that harnesses and stores solar, wind, or motion power could keep you in touch. Devices that power cell phones, GPS devices, digital cameras, MP3 players, e-book readers, and other electronics have come to market in recent years as “green” consumer products, but their usefulness for work has rarely been addressed.

To gauge their usefulness, we put several off-grid chargers through a series of informal, hands-on tests.

Miniwiz Hymini Wind Charger

The $49 Hymini from Miniwiz uses a tiny turbine to charge “most 5V handheld devices.” It’s likely to arouse the curiosity of clients and coworkers if you use it around them.

The Hymini fits in the palm of your hand or on a windowsill, but its comma shape is impractical. When we laid the device flat, its tiny turbine struggled to pick up enough wind to spin, and there’s no stand to prop the unit up with. When we used a strip of Velcro tape to attach the lightweight Hymini to an outdoor wall, however, its fan spun easily.

To get started, you’ll need to fill up the Hymini’s 1200-milliampere-hour lithium-ion polymer battery; the accompanying directions recommend doing this the first time via an AC wall outlet. In our tests, the initial charging took about 4 hours. Once you leave the office, you can replenish the charge in winds of 9 to 40 miles per hour–but since there’s no wind speed indicator, determining whether the wind is suitable for recharghing is a matter of guesswork.

As long as the battery indicator light glows green, the Hymni battery is full of power. Unfortunately, there’s no way to tell how much power remains, or how quickly the unit is draining. Once the light dies, charging the Hymini by wind power alone is not recommended, and in practice it tends to fall over too easily to be useful. We took it out on a sailboat in 20-knot winds and couldn’t keep it upright long enough to charge anything.

If wind charging doesn’t do the trick, you can connect a companion, stand-alone solar panel to feed the Hymini’s battery. But it’s inconvenient to have to charge a portable power supply to charge another power supply to charge your devices. Plugging your mobile phone into a wall or a PC is far simpler.

While the Hymini is receiving a charge, a red light on the side lights up. You must remember to slide a switch to the battery icon during charging, and to slide the switch to off when you aren’t using the Hymini. Sliding the switch to the lightbulb icon turns on a two-light LED flashlight atop the device.

Unlike other off-grid chargers, the Hymini comes with a handful of adapter tips labeled for LG, Sony Ericsson, Samsung, and Motorola phones. Also included are a retractable USB cable and adapter for powering the Hymini from a computer. The USB cables that came with RIM BlackBerrry, iPod Touch, Amazon Kindle, and HTC Droid Incredible worked as well.

It took about an hour to charge a dead BlackBerry Bold from the wall-charged Hymini. After that, however, attaching a drained HTC Droid Incredible to the Hymini for an hour didn’t provide enough power to permit a single phone call. Even after the Hymini spun outdoors for 5 more hours, it had too little juice when connected to a Kindle or to an iPod Touch to cause their charging indicators to register a connection.

In the end, the Hymini worked great when it was charged from the wall, but provided anemic results when serving its actual purpose of providing stored wind energy to electronics. If the Hymini isn’t practical as a reliable, off-grid power source, at least it would make a cool toy to demonstrate the possibilities of renewable energy for children.

Brunton Freedom Portable Power Device

The waterproof, 5.7-ounce, gray-and-orange Brunton Freedom solar charger feels simple and rugged, a good option for people who do “dirty” work outdoors. You could safely leave the $69, rubberized device face-up on a slippery table, on the dashboard of your car, or in the rain. It can attach to and hang from a hook, but there’s no built-in stand to position the Brunton Freedom at an optimal angle to catch the sun’s rays.

The Freedom is built to charge 5-volt electronic devices, including smartphones, GPS devices, MP3 players, and cameras. But with only the USB cable provided–and no options for adapters on the Brunton Website–its range of applicability is limited. (On the other hand, adapters and a USB transfer cable provided in the Hymini wind charger package seemed to work with the Brunton device as well.) At least the Freedom, unlike competitive products, came with a 12-volt USB adapter to plug in to a car’s cigarette lighter.

Though you have to turn on the Freedom before you can use it as a charger, you don’t have to mess with any switches or modes. One button controls a small, built-in flashlight, and another button switches on the power and lets you check the status of the 2200mAh lithium-ion polymer battery. When you press a button along the left edge, four LEDs indicate a full battery. The LEDs fade one by one as the power drains, so you can tell when it’s time to do a solar refill. A lightning-bolt icon flashes green while the Brunton Freedom powers up. A gray cable connects a mini-USB and a USB port on either side of the device and nestles into its body, so it’s hard to lose.

Like the Hymini, the Freedom comes with directions that recommend charging first from a wall or PC USB outlet rather than starting from scratch with the sun. After being plugged into a wall outlet for close to 3 hours and becoming fully powered, the Freedom took an hour to charge a BlackBerry Bold, after which it showed its battery drained to zero LEDs. The device automatically shut off whenever it ran out of power or finished charging.

On an overcast San Francisco day, the Freedom took about an hour outdoors to bring each blue LED to life–roughly 4 hours to fill a near-empty battery. When it was fully solar-charged, it took roughly an hour each to charge an HTC Droid Incredible and an iPod Touch. When the Freedom displayed just one or two LED indicators, however, none of the connected devices appeared to receive energy from it.

This sturdy device is relatively simple to use out of the box without heavy effort, and its helpful power indicator levels make it more practical and painless to use than other chargers. Furthermore, collecting solar energy seemed less of a struggle for the Freedom than gathering wind energy was for the Hymini. Unfortunately, the Freedom isn’t alone in seeming to need a full charge in order to give a lift to other devices.

MILWAUKEE, WI, Jul 14, 2010 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) — ZBB Energy Corporation (ZBB 0.62, +0.00, +0.03%) , a leading developer of intelligent, renewable energy power platforms, today announced the release of its next-generation ZESS POWR(TM) battery module (V2) that will provide greater performance and reliability than its already commercially proven product range. The new module reaffirms ZBB’s commitment to advance the state of battery technology to support is global customer base.

Improvements in the V2 include advanced materials for better internal flow, new external sealing material for secondary leak protection of the electrolyte, improved pumping components for greater reliability and lower auxiliary power requirements. Other features include improved piping and electrolyte connections for more efficient leak protection, a new enclosure for outdoor applications and more streamlined manufacturing processes that enable ZBB to produce the module in a more cost-effective manner.

“The V2 represents the latest improvement in manufacturing, technology and performance for zinc bromide batteries,” said Eric Apfelbach, ZBB Energy President and CEO. “We are already seeing performance improvements beyond our expectations in battery stability in real-world applications. Based on the tests we’ve performed, we consider the ZESS POWR(TM) V2 the best performing zinc bromide battery in the industry.”

In addition to improved reliability and higher performance, ZBB’s V2 module reduces the need for auxiliary power by one-third. That translates into 2 to 3 percent increase in battery efficiency, a significant improvement. The V2 module consists of two tanks, pumps and three cell stacks. It replaces the company’s V1 module developed five years ago as a state-of-the-art zinc bromide battery used to store electricity generated by wind, solar and other alternative energy sources.

The V2 release is part of ZBB’s strategic plan, announced in May, which among other features, calls for an increased order backlog and accelerated product development. To that end, the company has retooled manufacturing capabilities for the next-generation battery and is continuing development of the V3 module, with progress ahead of schedule.

About ZBB Energy Corporation ZBB Energy Corporation /quotes/comstock/14*!zbb/quotes/nls/zbb (ZBB 0.62, +0.00, +0.03%) provides distributed intelligent power management platforms that directly integrate multiple renewable and conventional onsite generation sources with rechargeable zinc bromide flow batteries and other storage technology. This platform solves a wide range of electrical system challenges in global markets for various types of sites with utility, governmental, commercial, industrial and residential end customers. A developer and manufacturer of its modular, scalable and environmentally friendly power systems (“ZESS POWR(TM)”), ZBB Energy was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Wisconsin with offices also located in Perth, Western Australia.

Safe Harbor Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release, including statements relating to ZBB’s growth, are forward-looking statements within the “safe harbor” provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including historical volatility and low trading volume of our stock, the risks and uncertainties inherent in the early stages of growth companies, the company’s need to raise substantial additional capital to proceed with its business, risks associated with competitors, and other risks detailed from time to time in the company’s most recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. The company disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

Contact Information:
Helen Brown
Investor Relations
ZBB Energy Corporation
T: 262.253.9800
Email: Email Contact

SOURCE: ZBB Energy Corporation

Solar power is great – when the sun shines. Wind power is a champ when the wind blows. But what happens on a dark night with calm winds to those two forms of alternative energy?

That’s the purpose of a bill approved this week by the California Assembly.

It mandates that the state’s energy grid must develop forms of energy storage by 2015. It doesn’t say how the energy might be stored, but some proposals include so-called “ultracapacitors” to store energy in an electrical field instead of traditional batteries.

Bill author Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, who is chairman of the Assembly Rules Committee, says the storage of electricity will create thousands of permanent new green-collar jobs in California.

“Energy storage improves the overall efficiency of our electric power system which will lower costs for consumers,” says Ms. Skinner.

Generally, when our batteries stops functioning, we will eventually discard them and buy new replacements, however, do you know that you can actually save money by “reconditioning” them? That way, the batteries can be reused again.

First of all, you have to understand that reconditioning is different from recharging. Recharging a battery is a process which gives charge for a certain time; however, when you recondition a battery, it can be restored to its full capacity.

Rechargeable batteries cannot last forever as there is a limit to how many charge/discharge cycles they can go through. The powers of the batteries lessened over time and the active charge time is reduced considerably. This makes it extremely difficult to recharge them.

There are various ways in battery reconditioning. One common way is by utilizing hardware tools to recondition them manually, on the other hand, some people prefer building new devices to recondition their batteries. Another way involves putting the batteries in a freezer throughout the entire night and then recharging it. This method will need about 3 cycles to be completed before the battery starts working again.

All types of batteries can be reconditioned even the newest car batteries available in the market right now. Battery reconditioning being one of the most effective skills has some cautions as well. Cautions such as handling the batteries with care as there are presences of dangerous acids during the process. Before you start learning more on battery reconditioning, spend some time understanding all the various battery types, how to improve battery life and how they should be properly handled.

These proven techniques can save you money significantly. Most of them are common techniques that can easily be made part of our daily lives. Not only this can save you money, it also helps protects our environment altogether. Read More Click Here

Sulfation is the Enemy of Lead-Acid Type Batteries

Learn More Click Here

If you’re like most of us, you know how much of an expense and inconvenience a dead battery can be.  By the time you pay for a tow truck to come and boost  or replace your battery, plus any lost earnings that you may have incurred, you can see that the costs quickly add up.  And while being able to recondition a dead battery may not solve your immediate problems,  it can definitely eliminate the expense of buying a new battery.  Plus, if you’re so inclined, you can turn it into a very profitable business.  And the best part is that it’s very easy and inexpensive.

Automotive lead-acid batteries generate electricity by using lead plates surrounded by sulfuric acid.  Along with electricity, this double sulfate reaction also produces lead sulfate.

Normally in a healthy battery, the lead sulfate is converted back to lead and sulfuric acid when it is recharged.  But in an older battery, or one that’s been discharged for a long period of time, the lead sulfate changes to a crystalline form.  It then coats the lead plates of the battery and reduces the capacity of the battery.  This process is known as sulfation, and is a normal occurrence in lead-acid batteries.  It’s also one of the most common reasons that these batteries fail.

When sulfation happens, it causes a host of problems within the battery.  It’s responsible for lowered capacity, longer recharge times, higher working temperatures, and increased corrosion.

The good news is that sulfation can often times be reversed.  A specialized battery charger that pulses a high current through the battery is often used.  This allows the crystalline lead sulfate to be broken down and turned back into lead and sulfuric acid, thus cleaning the lead plates and regaining charge capacity.

So before you throw that battery away, you should look into battery reconditioning as a way to save it.  And if you’re interested, you can also earn a substantial amount of money by reconditioning free dead batteries, and then reselling them.  A very small investment for a very large return! Read More Click Here

press release May 4, 2010, 10:00 a.m. EDT

Advanced, Proven and Available Technology Designed for Electric Mobility, Telecoms, Uninterruptible Power Supplies, Renewable Energy Generators and Electric Utilities

WAYNESBORO, Ga., May 04, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) — FIAMM, one of the world’s largest battery manufacturers, and Switzerland-based MES-DEA, the leading global producer of sodium-nickel-chloride batteries, have partnered to create a new company called FZ Sonick that will manufacture and market alternative energy storage solutions throughout the world. This proven and highly reliable storage technology is available for immediate deployment. FIAMM’s North American headquarters are located in Waynesboro, Ga.

Currently, MES-DEA sells advanced battery technology under the ZEBRA brand for use in electric vehicles. A version of the ZEBRA batteries is scheduled to power the first electric vehicle fleet of the European postal service. The new company’s SONICK-branded sodium-nickel-chloride product portfolio will improve energy storage in wireless cell sites, telecom data centers, uninterruptible power supplies, wheelchairs, busses, trains, and electric utility SmartGrid applications, among others.

“After more than 10 years of steady testing and growth in the transportation sector, we are now ready to also focus on the stationary applications of this innovative energy storage technology,” said Cesare Sinigaglia, former general manager of MES-DEA and FZ Sonick’s new managing co-director.

(continued below)

The SONICK advanced battery technology delivers numerous benefits versus existing energy storage solutions, such as increased capacity, longer lifecycle, zero emissions, low-cost raw materials, enhanced safety, and high energy density that reduces the battery size and weight compared to lithium ion and lead acid batteries, according to Nicola Cosciani, FIAMM’s director of strategic development and FZ Sonick’s new managing co-director.

“A number of battery-dependent industries have been looking for an alternative energy storage solution that is both environmentally friendly and efficient,” said Cosciani. “Through this partnership, FIAMM is now able to offer a unique solution in the form of the SONICK batteries that are a clean and renewable energy. They are durable and reliable, and can be recycled completely because of their composition of salt and nickel.”

Further, the SONICK sodium-nickel-chloride technology enables a wider range of applications than sodium sulfur (NaS) technology, which has received notable attention as an emerging alternative energy source. According to the Electricity Storage Association, NGK Insulators, Ltd. of Japan is currently the only manufacturer and supplier of sodium-based batteries; however, General Electric (GE) announced in May 2009 its plans to manufacture sodium-based batteries at a plant that is scheduled to open in mid-2011.

According to Rick Fioravanti, director of storage applications and support, KEMA, Inc., “As electricity grids continue to evolve into smarter systems, energy storage is expected to play a key role across multiple areas of our future grids. Advancements in electricity storage throughout the last few years have allowed the technology to grow from a future concept to an accepted tool of today’s smart grid.” KEMA is a leading energy and utility consulting, testing and certification firm active in energy storage.

Based on projected market demand for energy storage solutions, FZ Sonick plans to increase annual production to 170 MW from the 90 MW level recently achieved by MES-DEA. The company is evaluating additional manufacturing capacity for this advanced battery technology in North America, Cosciani noted.

FZ Sonick will be headquartered in Stabio, Switzerland where MES-DEA currently operates its manufacturing facility with a staff of 190 employees. Research and development efforts will take place at FIAMM’s headquarters in Italy. As part of the financial terms of the partnership, FZ Sonick purchased all patents, intellectual property and manufacturing equipment that were previously owned by MES-DEA.

The addition of advanced battery technology complements FIAMM’s existing line of industrial lead-acid batteries traditionally used in telecoms, electric utilities, data centers and manufacturing sites.

About FIAMM

The FIAMM Group, constituted in 1942, produces and sells batteries for the starting of cars, industrial use (units of continuity, back-up of energy) and warning horns (electric horns and sirens). FIAMM, which is headquartered in Italy, operates manufacturing facilities in Italy, Czech Republic, China, Brazil and United States. The company projects 2010 sales to exceed $660 million. Globally, it serves the leading automotive, telecommunications and technology companies such as General Motors, Vodafone, AT&T, Verizon, and the U.S. Government. FIAMM Energy, located in Waynesboro, Ga., manufactures stored energy solutions for diversified power applications such as telecommunications, industrials, security and renewable energies, among others. The FIAMM Energy product line comprises sealed (VRLA) and vented (flooded) batteries available in a wide range of capacities and technologies to cater for all requirements. For more information, visit http://www.fiamm.com/, http://www.fiammsonick.com/, http://www.fzsonick.com/, or call 706-437-3220.

About MES-DEA

MES-DEA is a business unit of the CEBI Group, which has been active for decades in the automotive components sector, appliances and alternative energy components. The CEBI Group has more than 3,000 employees worldwide with an expected turnover in 2010 of $690 million. Major markets served by CEBI companies are Europe, China, United States, South America and Australia. It serves customers such as Whirlpool, Electrolux, Bosch, BMW, Ford, Chrysler and Visteon, among many others. For more information, visit http://www.cebi.com/.

SOURCE: FIAMM Group

Fahlgren Mortine Public Relations for FIAMM
Paul Vetter, 614-383-1630
paul.vetter@fahlgren.com

May 4, 2010 By Steven Minnihan

Last week, GE Transportation introduced its battery for Smart Grid storage –  a sodium halide battery dubbed Durathon, which boasts a cycle life of up to 20 years. Additionally, the company announced a manufacturing plant for the battery in Schenectady, NY, along with a $150 million investment in advanced development of the battery.  GE Transportation has been developing molten salt batteries since it acquired Beta R&D in 2007, and Durathon most likely uses sodium nickel chloride technology, called the “zebra battery.”

Similarly, the only other sodium nickel chloride battery provider, MES-DEA, was sold to FIAMM Group earlier this year. The two companies restructured to form FZ Sonick, which will focus on energy storage applications primarily for the integration of renewable power sources, such as solar and wind, with the grid. MES-DEA previously focused on automotive applications for its batteries, while FIAMM group has targeted the storage market. FZ Sonick will continue using MES-DEA’s manufacturing facility in Switzerland with an annual capacity of 90 MWh. The company plans to increase this to 170 MWh in the next five years.

While GE Transportation and FZ Sonick are the only two contenders with a sodium nickel chloride battery, NGK Insulators are experiencing much success with their sodium sulfur (NaS) battery after selling approximately $177 million of the batteries in FY 2008.  Also, NGK has recently added $106 million worth of batteries for use in a wind farm in Rokkasho, Japan, and closed an additional $638 million deal with the United Arab Emirates for 300 MW of batteries over the next three to four years.

The NaS and Zebra Technologies have similar performance and price points, putting the three companies in direct competition. However, NGK’s customers have complained recently due to the company’s decision to increase prices in order to defend its margins. While NGK has the best-selling battery for large-scale grid storage today, the entrance of GE and FZ Sonick into an increasingly competitive marketplace means that the days at the top may be numbered.

Steven Minnihan is a research associate for Lux Research, which provides strategic advice and on-going intelligence for emerging technologies. Leaders in business, finance and government rely on Lux Research to help them make informed strategic decisions. Through their unique research approach focused on primary research and their extensive global network, they deliver insight, connections and competitive advantage to their clients. For more information, visit the Lux Research site or contact Carole Jacques to become a Lux Research client

Apr 26, 2010

A new GE Smart Grid battery technology offers durability, high energy density and the flexibility to be used for a number of utility applications. GE’s Durathon battery was designed to be used as a way to defer expensive transmission and distribution upgrades and to provide time shifting, congestion relief, peak shaving, load following and reserve capacity capabilities — as well as time of use management and improvements in power quality. According to GE, the battery’s proprietary chemistry gives it the ability to function at maximum efficiency for up to two decades, and it is not sensitive to extreme temperatures, eliminating the need for building expensive controlled environments.

Free Power

Free power isn’t totally free you will need to invest in equipment; but the power you make will be free. You have a large advantage over power companies when you make free power at home. No delivery charge. 

Power companies collect power or convert it then deliver it. They divide the cost of investment over 30 to 50 years and charge you for the investment and delivery amortized over time. 

What is the delivery cost if you make your own power (Zilch, zero, nothing)? If you hire a contractor to install energy devices at your home the cost will not be much cheaper than the Power Company. Your payback period will be as high as 25 years, not much better than the Power Company’s payback period. 

The rules change when you make your own power with a do-it-yourself (DIY) approach. No delivery charge, no contractor cost and investment payback period is usually under 5 years. 

Here are seven reasons to make DIY homemade power:

 
1.) Free power is everywhere. You just need to collect it. 

 
2.) Collecting free power is easy with solar, wind, and solar hot water systems. 

 
3.) Free power investment is cheap for DIY. DIY projects can be 1/10 the cost of commercial and payback is 5-10 times faster, usually under 5 years. 

 
4.) The governments encourage free power collection. The government will pay you. In the USA the tax credit is 30% up to $2000 for solar electric and solar hot water and up to $4,000 for small wind turbine. That is not much for commercial investment of $20,000 to $80,000; but this is a lot for DIY projects of $100 to $6,000. 

 
5.) Free power is green. The more you collect the less the power company pollutes our planet. That makes a greener planet for our future and the kids’ future. 

 
6.) Do-it-yourself guides that make free power projects easy and low cost are cheap. Projects are a $100 – $200 investment. Multiple projects can get you off the grid completely. 

 
7.) Remote sites like a vacation home or cabin, hunting lodge, campsites can be powered by these free power projects, no gas generator and no kerosene. 

Solar Panels

This Is What It Looks Like

Solar panels are a collection of solar cells, soldered together into a system. The cells can be purchase on eBay for about $50 per 100 watts of power. You assemble the cells in to 70 – 175 watt panels. Installing the panels is a matter of some brackets and wire. Solar panel installation is much more flexible and portable than wind turbines. 

Solar panels produce 18+ volts in to a battery charge controller. The controller fills deep cycle batteries with the power during the day. Power can be generated most days, even with clouds. 

 The limitation of solar panels is the sun. It’s up only half the day. A power inverter converts the battery’s power to household power for your normal use, day or night. Building several panels can achieve 1000+ watts of power. 

Small Wind Turbine

DIY Wind Turbine

Wind turbine is not for everyone. You need an open space, not because they are too large but because the wind flows better in the open. You need a minimum of 10+ M.P.H. wind speed with 20+ M.P.H. being ideal. An advantage to wind turbines is the wind can blow all day to produce power day or night. Another consideration is the wind turbine needs to be on a tower. 

The taller the better, in the 20 – 60 foot range. This usually requires local zoning permits. If these are not a problem you will get twice the power out of a wind turbine than for the same investment in solar panels. The break-even point is $400. More than that, the wind turbine is less costly to build for the same power output. 

You can easily get 450 watts to 1,000 watts from one DIY homemade turbine. Like the Solar Panel description above, you store the energy in deep cycle batteries and use an inverter to make household power, day or night. 

Solar Hot Water

Solar Hot Water

The power required for a home hot water heater is about 30% of the household energy budget. The solar hot water can easily cut that in half. Solar hot water uses the greenhouse effect. 

Build a box with a glass cover and some pipes and you can get hot water in the range of 120 – 130 degrees Fahrenheit winter and summer. Feed this hot water into you hot water heater for storage and the hot water heater will shut down, no power consumption. The hot water heater will only run when a boost is required like washing clothes. The construction is cheap and easy. 

Solar Air Heater

Solar Air Heater

Think about it. Free heat for the garage, basement or out-building. No wires not power costs. Supplement your house heater with free heat from the sun for as little as $30 in parts. 

Assuming you have most of the common parts around your garage, then yes you can. Even if it costs you a little more, its a fun “DIY Project” for the weekend.  

Geothermal Heat Pumps

Geothermal typical System

Geothermal heating and cooling technology provides exceptional performance and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) agrees that a geothermal heat pump is the most energy-efficient, environmentally clean, and most cost-effective space conditioning system available. 

    Today’s best geothermal systems outperform the best gas technology, gas heat pumps, by an average of 36% in heating mode and 43% in cooling mode! 

       You can save 25-50% on home electric bills compared to conventional heating and cooling systems. Imagine what you could do with the extra money in your wallet! 

The Reason for Guides

Do you want to know how to do these projects, what materials to buy, how big or small to make things? Get a DIY guide is the answer. For under $50 you can get a step-by-step guide, a plan and in some cases where needed you get a video tutorial. 

Which guide is best? Where do you get the guide. Go to www.ResidentialEnergykit.com for help.