East Penn & Ecoult Launch PJM Regulation Services Project with DOE Support to Demonstrate the Advantages of Deka UltraBattery(R) Technology

LYON STATION, Pa., June 15, 2012 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- East Penn Manufacturing Co., Inc. and its subsidiary Ecoult announce the launch of the newest project in the U.S. Department of Energy's Smart Grid Storage Demonstration Program.

The PJM (Pennsylvania-Jersey-Maryland Interconnection) Regulation Services project in Lyon Station, PA, is powered by the ground-breaking Deka UltraBattery^® technology. It will provide 3 MW of continuous frequency regulation services to the grid of PJM Interconnection, the largest Regional Transmission Organization/Independent System Operator in the US. The new system will also be used for peak demand management services to the local utility, Met-Ed (a FirstEnergy Company).

Regulation services are necessary so that the grid can maintain a constant frequency, providing fine tuning in real time to match supply and demand. With renewable portfolio standards coming into effect, the large scale integration of intermittent wind and solar generation introduces more variability in power generation, resulting in an increasing need for regulation services.

The fast-responding Deka UltraBattery^®, invented by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), is uniquely suited to meet the sudden frequency regulation and ramp rate control requirements of the modern electricity grid. Unlike gas turbines or coal generation plants, which may have a ramp response of between five and ten minutes, the fast-ramping UltraBattery^® technology is able to release or absorb power within seconds with highest accuracy of performance without creating CO2 emissions.

Sally Miksiewicz, East Penn CEO, said: "This highly anticipated project will demonstrate the ability of UltraBattery^® technology to enhance the reliability and efficiency of the electrical grid. As we embrace the utilization of advanced energy storage systems and its role in helping to conserve energy, we will make significant strides toward managing energy in a cleaner, more efficient way. This project will be a leading model in the implementation of this technology enabling a smarter grid on a much a broader scale."

The energy storage system is the second one to be launched out of 16 energy storage projects selected by the US Department of Energy under its Smart Grid Storage Demonstration Program. The U.S. Department of Energy supported the project with US$2.2 million of funding under its American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. "We are extremely pleased with the successful completion of this significant project," said Dr. Imre Gyuk, DOE's energy storage program manager. "We are confident that continued performance monitoring will demonstrate the value of storage systems for the grid." East Penn and Ecoult, along with Public Service Co. of New Mexico, are also responsible for the successful launch of the first project that integrates a solar plant with UltraBattery^® and advanced lead-acid battery technology located in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The PJM demonstration project has been implemented in both a building and a containerized format to demonstrate the modularity and mobility of the storage solutions. It connects to the grid from inside the East Penn Manufacturing site in Lyon Station, Pennsylvania.

Ecoult engineered and implemented the energy storage system, and developed the platform for the UltraBattery^® Energy Resource (UBer™) that controls both the batteries and the power conversion system.

"This project was achieved with the collaboration of many key partners, Dynapower provided a PowerSkid PCS for power conversion and grid integration, Sea Box, Inc.'s contract services for assembly of containerized components, Peterson Panel's power panels, KTR Associates' interconnection design, and Secure Power Solutions' power protection consulting services. We thank our partner US manufacturers for their dedication in bringing this project online and the U.S. Department of Energy for financially supporting this project," said John Wood, CEO of Ecoult.

"As well as contributing to grid stability via regulation services, UltraBattery^® technology is also being implemented at wind and solar generation sites to control ramp rate of renewable output directly, facilitating the integration of renewable energy into the grid. Large-scale integration of intermittent wind and solar generation into base-load distribution moves us towards a clean, renewable energy future with distributed supply security. We believe the Deka UltraBattery^® will make a major impact towards enabling that outcome," said Mr. Wood.

East Penn has made significant strides in helping to conserve energy through advanced lead-acid battery energy storage projects. East Penn will continue to play a significant role in conserving the Nation's energy consumption by providing commercially viable power alternatives for today's global consumer. East Penn's commitment to lead-acid and other advancements in new battery technology has availed the company unique opportunities in new markets. The company remains on the forefront of exploring the many possibilities of advanced battery technology in energy saving initiatives and renewable energy applications.

About the Technology

The Deka UltraBattery^® is a completely new class of advanced lead-acid technology that operates very efficiently in continuous Partial State of Charge (PSOC) use. It combines the advantages of advanced lead-acid technology with the advantages of an asymmetric capacitor, enabling an optimal balance of an energy storing lead-acid battery with the quick charge acceptance, power discharge, and longevity of a capacitor -- ideal for applications involving the continuous management of energy intermittencies and shifting of energy. Extensive testing by Sandia National Laboratories has verified the enhanced cycle life and reliability of these batteries.

The Deka UltraBattery^® is virtually 100% recyclable and is made in the United States. It is available as UltraBattery^® Energy Resource (UBer™), a complete, robust, safe, and flexible scalable platform for energy storage systems.

About the Project Partners

US Department of Energy ARRA Energy Storage Program: The U.S. American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provided US$185M for energy storage demonstrations. 16 projects in 5 areas were selected with a notable cost share of US$585M.

East Penn Manufacturing: Founded in 1946, East Penn, a privately-held company, operates one of the largest single-site, lead-acid battery manufacturing facilities in the world. The company produces high quality batteries and battery accessories for the automotive, commercial, marine, industrial, stationary, and specialty markets. East Penn manufactures the Deka UltraBattery^® at its state-of-the-art facility in Lyon Station, PA. For more information contact East Penn Manufacturing Co. Inc., Lyon Station, PA 19536 or visit the company website at www.dekabatteries.com.

Ecoult is a subsidiary of East Penn Manufacturing. Through UltraBattery^® technology and its intelligent energy management systems, Ecoult provides complete energy storage solutions and modules that are ready for custom integration. Ecoult's solutions are practical, safe and environmentally sound -- the energy storage of choice for grid ancillary service, wind and solar farm, and remote microgrid applications. For more information visit www.ecoult.com or send an email to [email protected].

DynaPower: Founded in 1963, Dynapower is the world's leading independent manufacturer of power conversion equipment with products recognized for their quality, reliability and value, serving hundreds of industries on every continent. In 2011, Dynapower installed over 400MW of grid connected systems. Dynapower's vertically integrated 150,000 sq. ft facility in South Burlington, Vermont, USA is dedicated to providing the highest quality equipment and service available. For more information visit www.dynapower.com.

Pennsylvania-Jersey-Maryland (PJM) Interconnection is a regional transmission organization (RTO) that manages the high-voltage electric grid and the wholesale electricity market that serves 13 states and the District of Colombia.

Met-Ed, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy, is one of the Nations's largest, investor-owned, electric utilities providing services to Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Virginia, and Maryland.

East Penn is a leading manufacturer of high quality lead-acid batteries and accessories for the automotive, commercial, marine, motive power, UPS, and telecommunication markets. The company's quality and environmental systems for its entire 520-acre complex have been certified to ISO 9001:2008, ISO/TS 16949:2009, and ISO 14001:2004 requirements.

For more information contact East Penn Manufacturing Co., Inc., Lyon Station, PA 19536 or visit the company website at www.dekabatteries.com.

Media contact:

Ms. Donna Snyder
East Penn Manufacturing Co. Inc.
Phone: +61-(0)-682-6361
E-mail: [email protected]

Inka Schrader
Phone: +61-2-9241-3001
Email: [email protected]

SOURCE East Penn Manufacturing Co., Inc.; Ecoult