EaglePicher Receives Contract from Erigo Technologies to deliver a Flexible Microgrid Energy Storage System for DoD applications

CLEVELAND, Feb. 19, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- EaglePicher Technologies, LLC, (EPT), an OM Group, Inc. (NYSE: OMG) company and a leading producer of specialty batteries and energy storage solutions for the defense, aerospace, medical, commercial, and grid energy storage markets, announced that it has been awarded a contract from Erigo Technologies LLC of Enfield, New Hampshire. Erigo's contract, funded under the Department of Defense Rapid Innovation Fund and awarded by the U.S. Corp of Engineers on behalf of the U.S. Northern Command, calls for delivery of an innovative system employing multiple battery types and sophisticated control systems to address the frequency, duty cycle, and storage needs of the conventional and renewable power sources that make up many DoD microgrids.

The Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) will be based on EPT's patented PowerPyramid™ hybrid energy storage system technology which, given the power sources and load characteristics of the microgrid environment, can be tailored to quickly and smoothly compensate for load imbalances and power source interruptions. The BESS will be delivered to the Government where it will undergo testing and evaluation at the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy System Integration Facility (ESIF), located on the campus of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's (NREL) in Golden, Colorado. At the completion of testing, NREL will assist USNORTHCOM in putting the system into service at a to-be-determined military base.  

The team will deliver a three-tiered, 300 kW/386 kWh PowerPyramid^™ grid-tied energy storage system capable of providing grid stabilization, microgrid support and on-command power response.  This three-tiered hybrid battery system was selected as the best configuration to demonstrate the functionality of the hybrid PowerPyramid^™ system.  The three tiers of batteries included in the 386 kWh BESS system will be Li-Ion, lead-acid and nickel-iron to deliver an appropriate balance of rapidly available energy and total power. The system is designed to be modular so any number of additional tiers could be added to the system at a later date.

"This is a significant contract award for EaglePicher," stated Dave Lucero, EPT's Director of Alternative/Grid Energy Storage.  "Not only will it validate our scalable approach for smart microgrid applications, it provides a flexible solution for operations at DOD bases that struggle with electrical power disruptions."

EPT's patented PowerPyramid^™ technology surpasses conventional storage techniques by leveraging complimentary benefits of diverse energy storage technologies.  By integrating multiple diverse energy storage technologies into a single system, EaglePicher's PowerPyramid^™ can deliver the performance and cycle life of a high-cost energy storage technology at a significantly lower cost.  The project team will leverage EaglePicher's 70 years of experience in the energy storage business to provide a competitive, state-of-the-art solution to meet USNORTHCOM's needs.

About Erigo Technologies LLC
Erigo is a small business focused on battery and lightweight metal research and development.  Erigo supports development of improved battery technologies as well as advanced production and test equipment for both large and small battery manufacturers. It also assists financial institutions in the due diligence process in this sector.  Erigo's areas of expertise cover the spectrum of primary and secondary battery technologies, as well as advanced flow batteries.

About EaglePicher Technologies, LLC
EaglePicher Technologies, LLC, an OM Group company, is a leading producer of batteries and energetic devices for the defense, aerospace, medical, commercial, grid energy storage, oil, and gas industries. The company provides the most experience and broadest capability in battery electrochemistry of any battery supplier in the United States. Battery technologies include lithium ion, thermal, silver zinc, nickel hydrogen, lithium carbon monofluoride, lithium thionyl chloride, lithium manganese dioxide, lithium sulfur dioxide, and reserve lithium oxyhalide. EaglePicher also provides custom battery assemblies, battery management systems, pyrotechnic devices, and other power solutions. EaglePicher Technologies is headquartered in Joplin, Mo., and is ISO9001:2008 and AS9100C certified. For more information, visit www.eaglepicher.com.

About OM Group, Inc.
OM Group is a technology-driven industrial company serving attractive global markets, including automotive systems, electronic devices, aerospace, industrial and renewable energy. Its business platforms use innovative technologies and expertise to address customers' complex applications and demanding requirements. For more information, visit the Company's website at www.omgi.com.

SOURCE OM Group, Inc.