November 10, 2022: A ground-breaking ceremony was held on November 3 for an indication circulate battery constructed by Lockheed Martin for the US authorities on the US Military Engineer Analysis and Improvement Middle (ERDC) in Fort Carson, Colorado. .
Lockheed Martin mentioned its GridStar battery system will likely be examined beneath circumstances that simulate connection to a microgrid and renewable energy technology to make sure continuity of provide within the occasion of a protracted energy outage.
A crew from ERDC and Building Engineering Analysis Laboratory (CERL) has been chosen to function the system, which is scheduled to be accomplished in late 2023 with commissioning scheduled for subsequent 12 months.
CERL operational power program Tom Decker mentioned for the needs of the challenge, when there may be extra renewable power or low demand for power, the circulate battery will likely be charged and the charged electrolyte will likely be saved. When the battery circulate system is absolutely charged, or when saved power is required, this electrolyte passes again to the circulate battery offering as much as 1MW for as much as 10 hours.
“ERDC-CERL will work with Lockheed Martin and the Fort Carson director of public works to take a look at totally different instances of how you can use this storage functionality,” Decker mentioned.
“Backside line is, the Lockheed Martin circulate battery will present a viable technique of long-term grid scale power storage to Fort Carson and their mission essential property like no different set up. within the Military now.”
Photograph by Kaley Skaggs of the US Military Corps of Engineers