NEC Energy Solutions is working with Ambri to develop an energy storage system based on the latter’s liquid metal battery technology.
Under the terms of the deal, NEC will use its proprietary Aeros energy storage operating system and controls to optimise performance of the Ambri technology.
Ambri cells will be delivered to NEC in the fourth quarter of 2019 of which NEC has committed to a minimum purchase of 200 megawatt-hours.
NEC said systems will be targeted at applications with durations of four-hours or more, and where daily full depth of discharge cycling is expected.
“These systems will be particularly well suited for shifting large amounts of renewable energy and grid-system peak shaving,” it said.
NEC Energy Solutions chief executive Steve Fludder said: “Based on our knowledge and testing of Ambri’s technology, we feel this chemistry could be a great answer to the energy industry’s need for a low cost, long life storage solution.
“Ambri’s technology enables safe and reliable energy storage with potentially the lowest levelised cost of storage in the industry.
“NEC’s collaboration with Ambri is a great example of our initiative to explore promising future technologies for energy storage solutions.”
Ambri executive chairman Dan Leff said: “We’re delighted that NEC’s industry-leading system integration team will develop the first systems with Ambri cells.
“We’ve received inquiries world-wide from developers, IPPs and utilities for Ambri-based systems who seek a lower cost and safer battery that does not suffer from degradation due to usage.
“We look forward to helping NEC support these customers with commercial systems based on our technology.”