Sodium sulfur battery demonstration

Advanced Battery Technology, Apr 2002

Columbus, Ohio-based American Electric Power, AEP EmTech, LLC (an AEP subsidiary), Tokyo Electric Power Co., and NGK Insulators, Ltd. have conducted the first U.S. demonstration to test the combined power quality and peakshaving capabilities of the sodium sulfur (NAS) battery, an advanced electrical energy storage technology. According to AEP, these batteries promise advantages over conventional ones, including higher efficiency, longer life cycle, higher energy density, reduced space requirements, and reduced maintenance costs. Since finalizing the agreement in early December, the partnership expects the project to be in service by mid-2002 at an AEP office near Columbus.

Officials of AEP EmTech and NGK signed a contract for NGK to supply two NAS battery modules that will provide up to 500kW of power quality protection for up to five minutes plus MOM of peak-shaving capacity for up to seven hours per day during peak power demand periods. AEP is also finalizing a separate contract with ABB, Inc. for the power electronics package that will integrate the DC battery installation with the AEP office building's AC electrical system.