Ambri, a long-duration energy storage solutions provider, and Xcel Energy have signed an agreement to assess the commercial feasibility of Ambri’s Liquid Metal battery system at SolarTAC in Aurora, Colorado.
Over a 12-month real-world demonstration period, the two companies will jointly evaluate the performance and capabilities of the 300-kWh system by testing various use cases, such as solar and wind integration and capacity management. The system will use SolarTAC’s GridNXT Microgrid Platform to integrate multiple generation sources, such as wind and solar, along with inverters, load banks, and 3-phase distribution connections.
The Liquid Metal battery system will be Ambri’s first utility pilot system to be deployed in the field and could potentially provide an avenue for Xcel Energy to reach its goal of supplying customers with zero-carbon electricity, heating, and transportation by 2050.
“This demonstration project with Ambri allows us to explore a technology that could help us continue to reliably supply the energy our customers depend on throughout the clean energy transition,” said Justin Tomljanovic, Xcel Energy’s Vice President of Corporate Development.
The installation will begin in early 2024, and the system is expected to be fully operational later that year.
