TerraScale Signs an Agreement With Ambri To Deploy Its Liquid Metal Battery Technology For Energos Reno Project

Ambri, a battery system maker, has cut a deal with Terrascale, an official Partner of IBM, to provide a large scale battery plant for a data center project named Energos Reno

An article by energy-storage.news described it as such

Co-founded by MIT materials chemistry professor Donald Sadoway and part-funded to get off the ground by Bill Gates, Ambri has designed a battery that uses a liquid calcium alloy anode, molten salt electrolyte and a cathode made of solid particles of antimony. The company claims this enables a low number of steps in the cell assembly process while the materials are low-cost. Ambri also integrates the batteries into a containerised energy storage system solution.

Terrascale describe the project, Energos Reno, as such

The Energos Reno development is centered around two key strategies. The first is the development of critical infrastructure (roadways and utilities) that meet the demands of digital data/technology, manufacturing, distribution and warehousing for the US supply chain. The second is the development of renewable power by expanding the existing solar and geothermal sources; along with, future development of other potential technologies under discussion.

TerraScale is developing 3,700 acres of land near Fernley, NV in the Reno/Sparks Interstate I-80 corridor. Upon completion, Energos Reno will be the largest industrial / commercial / residential development in the US powered by hybrid renewable energy (geothermal, solar and other).

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SOURCES

Ambri's liquid metal battery to be used at desert data centre in Nevada
https://www.energy-storage.news/news/ambris-liquid-metal-battery-to-be-used-at-desert-data-centre-in-nevada
26 Nov 2020

Energos Reno
https://terrascale.org/projectenergos

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Enhanced Flooded Batteries (EFB) might be a step toward All Electric Vehciles - at Least Worth a Look

Exposed view of AGM Battery

An article from trucker.com caught out eye:

[I]n testing at 50 deg. C, an EFB battery was able to absorb 52% more energy than a comparable AGM [Absorbed Glass Mat] battery before collapse. In practice, he explained further, an EFB will last 52% longer than an AGM in high temperature environments before thermal stability and water loss failure is realized. In addition, in over 18 weeks of testing, the total average capacity output of the EFB was 50% greater than an equally sized AGM battery.

To be clear, rbbattery.com says an EFB is a rechargeable battery that contains a liquid electrolyte. This is what a is typically thought of as an automobile/truck lead-acid battery.

So an obvious question is: How is this different?

Reliable Power (rbbattery.com) describes it as such:

Exploded EFB battery

Enhanced flooded batteries have two main characteristics, namely scrim and acid circulator.

The Scrim is a polyester element added between the plate and the separator. Its purpose is to prevent the erosion of mass by holding the reactive material in its place.

This results in an enhanced deep cyclic resistance and a superior charge acceptance.

The acid circulator prevents the stratification of the acid. This modification utilizes the inertial movements of the vehicle to maintain a constant circulation of the acid.

Due to the homogenous density levels of the acid, charge acceptance and overall battery life are improve

Interestingly, this is an article by a specialty website (trucker.com). As such, we will watch this technology unknown to us more closely.

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SOURCES

Battery technology developments for heavy-duty trucks
https://www.trucker.com/technology/article/21147960/battery-technology-developments
Nov 17, 2020

EFB Battery Guide: Everything You Need to Know About EFB Technology
https://www.rbbattery.com/efb-battery-guide-everything-you-need-to-know-about-efb-technology/
April 29, 2019

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Australia plans to build a "Giant" 300 Megawatt "battery" with the help of Neoen SA and Tesla

From an story by techxplore.com

Australia is poised to construct one of the world's largest batteries, using Tesla's technology for lithium-ion batteries. The football-field sized battery will provide up to 300 megawatts of power output and 450 megawatts-hours of storage in a country that has been struggling to meet energy demands during skyrocketing power usage triggered by record-breaking temperatures. Last year, Australia suffered its hottest and driest year ever, with temperatures topping 121 degrees Fahrenheit last December.

The battery, known as the Victorian Big Battery Megapack, will be located in the state of Victoria, Australia's second most populous region. The move to a modernized power generator and storage system is seen as critical by Australian officials to meet growing demands that are overwhelming older power grids that suffered numerous blackouts in recent years.

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The battery is expected to have the capacity to power half a million homes for one hour.

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The Victorian Big Battery Megapack plant is expected to open next summer.

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Australia constructing giant 300-megawatt battery
https://techxplore.com/news/2020-11-australia-giant-megawatt-battery.html
by Peter Grad - November 6, 2020

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New GM EV Battery Plant in Lordstown, Ohio - in Preperation for Opening - is Accepting Job Applications

A plot of land with 158-acre will soon have a 3 million square foot facility with an "annual capacity of more than 30 gigawatt hours."

According to the press release visible at the blog gmauthority.com

General Motors just announced that it's seeking to add 1,100 new team members to the Ultium Cells LLC battery production plant in Lordstown, Ohio. The facility will mass-produce Ultium battery cells for use in General Motors' upcoming range of all-electric vehicle offerings.

Follow gmauthority.com for more information on GM related information.

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General Motors Now Hiring For Ultium Cells Battery Plant In Ohio https://gmauthority.com/blog/2020/11/general-motors-now-hiring-for-ultium-cells-battery-plant-in-ohio/
5 Nov 2020

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$39 Million To Bust USA Renewable Energy Dam Wide Open

https://cleantechnica.com/2020/11/02/39-million-to-bust-us-renewable-energy-dam-wide-open/