AUSTIN, TX and BERLIN, GERMANY–(Marketwired – Nov 16, 2017) – Younicos has completed the installation and commissioning of an upgraded 3 MW battery-based energy storage system on Kodiak Island, Alaska. The company replaced previously deployed lead-acid systems with advanced lithium-ion batteries, significantly extending the resource’s operational lifetime and enhancing performance and reliability.

Darron Scott, President/CEO of Kodiak Electric Association (KEA), commented, “Younicos is a forward-thinking organization with proven technology that shares our belief in clean and affordable energy. As a cooperative, we’re owned by the island’s residents — who care about the environment and electricity rates. This upgraded battery system will ensure continued use of renewable energy, keeping our grid reliable and our costs down.”

“We’re delighted to have worked again with KEA to upgrade this system and help support 100% renewables on the island,” said Jayesh Goyal, Younicos Managing Director. “This implementation of lithium-ion batteries greatly enhances the system’s performance and flexibility, while providing grid services and improved resiliency. We’re grateful for the continuing trust that KEA has placed in our engineering capabilities and storage solutions.”

In 2007, KEA set a goal to produce 95 percent of Kodiak Island’s energy from renewable sources by the year 2020, to greatly reduce reliance on diesel fuel and lower the cost of generation to customers. The utility reached that goal ahead of schedule in 2012. Since 2015, Kodiak Island has been one of only five U.S. cities to achieve over 99% of its generation through renewable resources. The use of increased amounts of wind energy to reach the goal while maintaining reliability was enabled by the intelligently controlled battery system originally designed — and now upgraded — by Younicos.

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TORONTO, ONTARIO–(Marketwired – Oct. 25, 2017) – Sparton Resources Inc. (TSX VENTURE:SRI) (“Sparton” or the “Company“) is pleased to report that that the Chinese Central Government has recognized battery technology as the key technology in the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy.

On September 22, 2017 the China National Development and Reform Commission (“NDRC”) and the National Energy Commission (“NEC”), jointly released Document 1701, “Guidance on the Promotion of Energy Storage Technology and Industry Development”.

In this comprehensive and far reaching document, various private, State and Federal institutions, and energy generating utilities in China, are encouraged to support, further develop, and make expanded use of various forms of evolving energy storage technologies. The NDRC and NEC, in conjunction with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and other relevant departments, have been mandated to coordinate, establish and improve measures to effectively promote energy storage initiatives.

China is the world leader in renewable energy power generation. The need for supporting energy storage programs, using various technologies, has been long recognized as part of China’s long-term planning. Document 1701 affirms that the storage industry is of strategic significance for building a modern, clean, low carbon, safe and efficient energy industry.

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AUSTIN, TX–(Marketwired – Sep 18, 2017) – ViZn Energy Systems Inc. (ViZn), a leading provider of utility scale energy storage systems, was named the top non-lithium ion (Li-ion) battery for grid storage by Navigant Research. The recently released report, Navigant Research Leaderboard: Non-Lithium Ion Batteries for Grid Storage, concluded that ViZn’s zinc-redox flow battery systems are in the best position to capitalize on the numerous weaknesses of Li-ion technology and capture a piece of the rapidly growing stationary storage industry.

“We’re thrilled that a highly respected research and consulting firm like Navigant has recognized the unique value proposition that our flow batteries provide to utilities and C&I facilities,” stated Ron Van Dell, CEO of ViZn Energy Systems. “They join an ever-expanding list of industry analysts, media, and most importantly customers that see the bankability of a flexible energy storage system that performs a greater mix of energy and power applications than other technologies on the market for 20 years and with non-toxic chemistry.”

The Navigant Research report ranked thirteen top non-lithium ion battery energy storage vendors based on the following criteria: vision, go-to-market strategy, partners, production strategy, technology, geographic reach, sales, marketing, and distribution, product performance, product quality and reliability, product portfolio, pricing, and staying power. ViZn’s systems stood out among the competing flow batteries, advanced lead-acid batteries, and zinc-based batteries as being best able to compete with Li-ion batteries for stationary energy storage market share and having the most well-established and comprehensive product portfolio.

“ViZn’s advantage in this market results from both the advantages of its technology and the ecosystem of partnerships it has developed. The operational flexibility of the company’s technology combined with the ability to reduce prices using low cost materials will be key as the market matures. ViZn has developed pre-configured products targeting multiple customer types including utility-scale, C&I, and remote/off-grid, along with partnerships to support its strategy in these markets,” said Alex Eller, energy research analyst at Navigant Research.

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SAN DIEGO, CA–(Marketwired – Oct 18, 2016) – Energy Storage North America (ESNA), the largest gathering of policy, technology and market leaders in energy storage, concluded its fourth annual event last week in San Diego. Mirroring the growth and maturation of the storage industry at large, ESNA grew in its attendee numbers, expo floor space, and the number of organizations represented at its conference and expo.

More than 1,900 industry professionals attended ESNA, held October 4-6, hailing from over 1,000 different organizations and 25 countries. The nearly 15,000-square-foot expo floor, the largest ever for Energy Storage North America, provided over 100 exhibitors with an opportunity to showcase the latest software and hardware storage technologies, systems and services.

Senior executives from utilities, grid operators, investors and storage developers took part in panel sessions alongside elected officials and regulators to discuss the changing regulatory landscape, the process of valuing benefits of storage and the latest system deployments and assets, among other trending industry topics. In total, the ESNA conference featured nearly 150 speakers on 21 different panel sessions, 6 keynote addresses and 8 in-depth workshops.

“The optimism, excitement and innovation that underscored ESNA’s program, expo and networking events all point to the tremendous growth of energy storage over the past year,” said Janice Lin, Chair of Energy Storage North America. “By bringing utilities, policymakers, storage developers and financiers into the same room to break down barriers and share successes, we can leverage the potential of storage even further to modernize and strengthen our electric power system.”

Special events at ESNA also highlighted important sectors and stakeholders in energy storage. The annual ESNA Awards Ceremony recognized innovative storage projects in the centralized, distributed and mobility sectors, as well as policy and utility champions who have advanced storage through their work. ESNA hosted its first annual Women in Energy Storage networking event to foster connections among women in the storage industry, and continued its tradition of hosting a utility-only networking reception to encourage dialogue among utility professionals. In 2016, the number of utility employees who attended ESNA doubled compared to 2015, reflecting the increasing utility focus on and investments in energy storage.

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TUALATIN, OR–(Marketwired – Sep 12, 2016) – Powin Energy, a leading manufacturer and developer of scalable energy storage systems for commercial and utility customers, announced today that Southern California Edison (SCE) has selected Powin Energy to build a 2 MW/8 MWh energy storage system to provide critical grid support and capacity services. The selection resulted from a process started in response to the California Public Utilities Commission’s (CPUC) Aliso Canyon Energy Storage (ACES) request for energy storage projects that could be operational by the beginning of 2017.

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TORRANCE, CA and VENICE, CA–(Marketwired – April 27, 2016) – Verengo Solar, Southern California’s premier residential PV installer, and Swell Energy, California’s leading home battery provider, jointly announced today a partnership that creates a one-stop home energy storage and backup power solution for the residential market.

Under the terms of the agreement, Verengo will leverage its leadership position and expertise in the residential solar power installation market and become a preferred installer of Swell Energy’s home solar battery products. Among the services offered by the two companies is an energy storage solution that will allow customers to power their homes cleanly and quietly independent of the electrical grid for up to one day or, when paired with solar, potentially indefinitely.

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