Rechargeable Zn-MnO2 Battery Systems for Energy Assurance Applications

Power outages remain a persistent issue in the United States, as aging electrical infrastructure is often vulnerable to extreme weather events. Preliminary outage data analysis indicates that in most U.S. counties consumers experienced nearly 30 outages over the last 5 years. About 50% of the power outages were for less than a day in duration whereas 50% were for more than a day. Power outages cost the U.S. economy nearly $110B per year, and this number is poised to increase as extreme weather events are steadily increasing due to the impacts of climate change. Urban Electric Power (UEP) plans to evaluate the performance and the market for consumer- oriented products that assure uninterrupted power using rechargeable zinc-manganese dioxide (Zn- MnO2) battery packs during outages. Specifically, UEP proposes to develop and test cells that use a polymer electrolyte that makes it possible to seal and easily transport and permit batteries. In parallel, UEP will conduct interviews with at the least 50 customers and partners to understand the needs for a commercially viable energy storage product. This information will be used to influence product system design and delivery. UEP will then demonstrate the battery systems in field installations to validate several use cases, including integration of storage with solar panels, server farms, homes, small business, and critical infrastructure. UEP’s technology provides valuable backup power to datacenters and telecom infrastructure where any service outage can have massive financial and societal repercussions. Power assurance is also a vital public safety concern, both for individuals who rely on critical medical equipment, and the public at large. UEP’s portable system could provide power in crucial moments and avert numerous fatalities. Future phases of SBIR will help commercialize this technology and dramatically increase its potential impacts.