Batteries, as well all know, wear out. But sometimes you just want to upgrade your old lead-acid batteries to something modern and new, like lithium-ion. Those are the same kind used in your smart phone, high-end electric cars, and the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Well, Kodiak Electric Association is doing just that by replacing the 3-megawatt battery storage system it uses to smooth out surges in power generation and demand. The replacement of the lead-acid batteries, installed just in 2012, should be complete by mid August.
The work will be done by Younicos, under an agreement recently signed with KEA.
The lithium-ion batteries are designed to support increased wind generation, of which KEA currently utilizes to supply 14-percent of the system’s power.