Mar 11 2008
Lithium Technology Corporation, announced today that it will market an advanced lithium-ion battery for pitch control systems of wind generators, a rapidly growing global alternative energy source. The ultra-high power battery, developed in conjunction with HARTING Technology Group for a 2.5 megawatt (MW) class wind power generator was successfully tested in a wind park in Germany. In just the first two months of this year, LTC has received orders for 12 wind power generator projects.
LTC's subsidiary GAIA Akkumulatorrenwerke (GAIA) teamed up with HARTING to design the 648 Wh battery consisting of 24 of LTC's 7.5Ah cells. The Companies have agreed on a non-exclusive joint marketing effort to supply the innovative back-up system to the wind power industry.
"The development of this battery and our relationship with HARTING is a significant step for LTC entering the renewable energy market," commented Dr. Klaus Brandt, chief executive officer of LTC. "We anticipate this to be a fast growing and potentially large market for lithium-ion batteries, not only for emergency power but also for energy storage overall, which is key to expanding the use of renewable energy."
LTC will develop and manufacture the lithium-ion cells and supply the battery management system, which will be assembled by HARTING using its unique connector technology. HARTING will also be responsible for marketing, sales, integration into the wind generator's electrical systems, and after sales service.
For maximum efficiency and safety, wind generators rely on a continuous adjustment of the pitch of the turbine blade to the wind conditions. In case of a power grid failure or strong winds, the battery ensures that the blades safely return to a neutral position to avoid turbine damage.
Successful testing and implementation have proven superior performance of the new LTC/HARTING battery, which is placed at the base of each of the three blades of the 2.5 MW turbine and subjected to continuous rotation, vibration and extreme temperatures. The next stage of product development will be a system for a 5MW class wind power generator. Presently, 21 of the LTC/HARTING batteries are in service in wind parks in Germany one of the countries leading the effort to use wind energy to replace fossil fuels in the generation of electrical power.