Ecoult, Sydney (Australia) based energy storage company, has been awarded A$4.1 million in funding from the Advanced Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) to support further development and innovation necessary to transition to a renewables based economy.

The new funding through ARENA’s Advancing Renewables Program, will enable Ecoult to develop its solar battery monitoring and management systems and extend innovations of the CSIRO-pioneered UltraBattery technology.

Formed in 2007 by the CSIRO and later acquired in 2010 by US-based East Penn Manufacturing, Ecoult aims to use the funding to increase both the utilised battery range of charge and the performance characteristics of UltraBattery energy storage systems and solutions, decreasing cost and increasing competitiveness via improved measurement, understanding, and management techniques.

The project will also expand the UltraBattery’s integration across multiple inverter brands and types so it can be paired with a wider range of products. Fleet owners, technicians and end-users will all benefit from remote, online access to monitoring and control systems, reducing costs and providing greater visibility of energy consumption, from anywhere, at any time.

This is the second round of funding Ecoult has received from ARENA. The previous funding was used to successfully complete the UltraBattery for both PV Support and the Remote Area Power Systems Project, which led to the creation of the small, kilowatt-scale UltraFlex battery storage device.

John Wood, Ecoult CEO, said, “Energy storage is a fast growing, innovative sector. With ARENA’s new round of funding, it means Ecoult can continue to improve its technology in a way that can effectively shift our dependency on fossil fuel consumption to more effective use of renewable resources.

“Providing cost-effective, grid-scale energy storage solutions, our UltraBattery supports the uptake of renewable energy in Australia and abroad. The combination of its fast charge, power and energy capabilities, lower operating costs, safety, recyclability and high temperature tolerance makes it a robust technology to withstand the hot Australian climate. These capabilities are particularly significant for key applications in many parts of the developing world.”

“Over the past 10 years, since our inception at CSIRO, and through the critical funding from ARENA, our team continues development at pace to change the way people and companies think about energy storage and renewable energy.

“We’re always looking at how to enhance and improve our technology through its entire lifecycle and excited about what this could mean for energy storage in the future,” explained Wood.

Ivor Frischknecht, ARENA’s CEO, said, “Our support for Ecoult demonstrates how ARENA works across the innovation chain to support research and development and build a vital bridge between commercial adoption and uptake.”

Ecoult delivers complete energy storage solutions and modules powered by the breakthrough UltraBattery technology – a hybrid lead-acid energy storage device containing both an Ultracapacitor and a battery in a common electrolyte. Invented by CSIRO and manufactured in the USA by East Penn Manufacturing, UltraBattery opens up a new dimension in lead-acid technology—enabling new applications and possibilities.

Ecoult’s storage solutions manage intermittencies, smooth power and shift energy in a safe, reliable and environmentally sound way – the energy storage of choice for grid ancillary services, wind and solar farms, remote microgrids, dual purpose and diesel microgrid efficiency applications.