Tasmanian Island to be King of Renewable Energy as Ecoult Awarded with Hydro Tasmania Contract

SYDNEY, Oct. 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Australian energy storage company Ecoult has been awarded the Hydro Tasmania contract to supply the largest battery based renewable energy storage system in Australia for the King Island Renewable Energy Integration Project (KIREIP).

The 3 MW / 1.6 MWh UltraBattery storage system will complement other elements of Hydro Tasmania's KIREIP, the aim of which is to significantly reduce King Island's reliance on diesel fuel to supply the island's energy needs. The storage system will have the capacity to power the entire island for up to 45 minutes.

Ecoult CEO John Wood said the UltraBattery storage system would shift and smooth renewable energy generated on King Island and will help maintain stability of the power grid. 

"Ecoult's UltraBattery solutions support the utilisation of renewable energy by storing energy in periods where there is excess generation and making it available when it is needed to better match demand," Mr Wood said.

"Ecoult energy storage solutions are an important complement for renewable energy generation and this implementation is another boost for the environment as it will support the overall KIREIP solution that reduces reliance on diesel. We are proud that UltraBattery has been selected as the energy storage technology solution for this ground-breaking project," he said.

Hydro Tasmania's Manager of Renewable Asset Development Simon Gamble said the KIREIP brings together a portfolio of new and existing technologies, combined in novel ways to increase renewable energy use on King Island.

"KIREIP will enable demonstration of a world-leading power system that can deliver more than 65 per cent of King Island's annual needs from renewable energy, and do it without any loss of reliability or grid stability and at a price lower than the diesel power alternative," Mr Gamble said.

"As well, the KIREIP will lower CO2 emissions by 95 per cent through the use of sustainable clean energy sources, including bio-diesel."

KIREIP is an initiative of Hydro Tasmania and is being developed with the assistance of the Australian Government's Renewable Energy Demonstration Program and the Tasmanian Government.

About Ecoult

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. 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. Ecoult is a subsidiary of US-based battery manufacturer East Penn Manufacturing, Inc.

For more information visit www.ecoult.com.

Media contact:

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

SOURCE Ecoult