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GE's Novel Battery to Bolster the Grid

technology review - Published by MIT -- Yesterday GE officially opened a sprawling, $100 million battery factory in Schenectady, New York, with a dramatic battery-powered show of lights, music, and pyrotechnics. The factory, which will eventually employ 450 people, makes a new kind of battery—based on sodium and nickel. GE says the technology, which is more durable and charges more quickly than lead-acid batteries, will make off-grid power generation more efficient and help utilities integrate power from a wide range of sources, including intermittent ones such as wind and solar power.

While GE will have strong competition for new grid battery technologies from companies such as Aquion Energy and Liquid Metal Battery, the manufacturing giant clearly has high ambitions for its technology, recently forming a new business unit to

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Submitted Jul 13, 2012 By: NHLiveFree

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stonecold5005 All-Star Author Waco Posts:819 Points:20,605 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Jul 14, 2012 9:24:47 AM Ignore stonecold5005 Report Abuse good
DanMtz Champion Author Oakland Posts:3,496 Points:1,271,125 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Jul 14, 2012 9:23:41 AM Ignore DanMtz Report Abuse Sounds good.
jrs4125 Champion Author Indiana Posts:2,898 Points:619,445 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Jul 14, 2012 8:31:33 AM Ignore jrs4125 Report Abuse Alrighty then
BlueberryFocus All-Star Author Rochester Posts:553 Points:129,510 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Jul 14, 2012 12:18:31 AM Ignore BlueberryFocus Report Abuse The battery is a simple electrochemical device that will be around long into the future. This grid tied battery will help to level out the grid power load, and in off grid systems can provide for a better energy storage medium than current technologies.
PDQBlues Champion Author San Diego Posts:7,214 Points:1,476,025 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Jul 13, 2012 9:07:35 PM Ignore PDQBlues Report Abuse Good for the innovations, but I'm still convinced that at some point, we must develop the electronic technology that makes the battery unnecessary.
VB_Richard Champion Author Virginia Beach Posts:1,798 Points:379,520 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Jul 13, 2012 8:41:37 PM Ignore VB_Richard Report Abuse Ready for more innovation.
teafortwo Champion Author Washington Posts:22,375 Points:1,412,000 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: Jul 13, 2012 8:15:27 PM Ignore teafortwo Report Abuse A better battery is a key piece to moving away from fossil fuels toward cleaner energy sources. Thanks for sharing NHLiveFree ;0} FROM THE ARTICLE: For this application, the battery has two primary advantages over the lead-acid batteries that sometimes back up the generators. They can charge faster—over two hours compared to 10 hours for lead-acid batteries. And unlike many other batteries, GE's new battery doesn't require air conditioning, which helps reduce fuel consumption at the site. Besides powering cell-phone towers, the batteries could also be used to store power from wind turbines and solar panels to even out fluctuations in these power sources. GE also says they could be used in microgrids, small grids that are often the size of a village or military base and are designed to operate independently of the larger electrical grid while still getting grid-quality electricity. The batteries are more expensive per kilowatt-hour than lead-acid batteries, but they're expected to last longer, especially in applications in which the batteries are deeply discharged on a frequent basis, which damages lead-acid batteries. In some applications, lead-acid batteries might last only six months. Designed to be deeply discharged at least 3,500 times, GE's sodium-nickel batteries could last through a decade of daily charging.
A2J Champion Author Richmond Posts:3,205 Points:628,700 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Jul 13, 2012 7:00:06 PM Ignore A2J Report Abuse so ?
Agarre Champion Author Richmond Posts:1,335 Points:263,785 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Jul 13, 2012 6:56:46 PM Ignore Agarre Report Abuse hmmm
FunMyster All-Star Author Indiana Posts:909 Points:73,480 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Jul 13, 2012 4:57:21 PM Ignore FunMyster Report Abuse Ok
leemun Champion Author Utah Posts:5,683 Points:1,067,765 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Jul 13, 2012 2:38:26 PM Ignore leemun Report Abuse Gee, that's a different kind of battery!?
MetroManiac Champion Author Rochester Posts:1,731 Points:281,740 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Jul 13, 2012 2:07:18 PM Ignore MetroManiac Report Abuse good, jobs.
fuel2use Champion Author Seattle Posts:3,615 Points:758,920 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Jul 13, 2012 1:46:24 PM Ignore fuel2use Report Abuse Hmm, storage buffers.
jbrad4 All-Star Author Dallas Posts:809 Points:499,605 Joined:Nov 2010	Message Posted: Jul 13, 2012 10:33:29 AM Ignore jbrad4 Report Abuse This is a battery for specialty operations. It won't have much use for the average person.
crep1291 Champion Author Ottawa Posts:2,637 Points:486,190 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Jul 13, 2012 10:21:55 AM Ignore crep1291 Report Abuse At 300C (572F) operating temperature, this battery won't be all that useful for your cell phone or even moving vehicle. I wonder if energy density is any better that other technologies.
sciotosix Champion Author Dayton Posts:2,889 Points:693,825 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Jul 13, 2012 10:03:17 AM Ignore sciotosix Report Abuse Great to hear that new jobs are coming.
Joeski1 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:10,210 Points:1,769,535 Joined:Dec 2004	Message Posted: Jul 13, 2012 9:06:10 AM Ignore Joeski1 Report Abuse give me an efficient way of storing power for night use.. and I'll put more solar Pv panels up to negate and offset our electric energy use period.
bigt61 All-Star Author Virginia Posts:671 Points:205,420 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Jul 13, 2012 9:03:45 AM Ignore bigt61 Report Abuse For the naysayers, obviously the battery works, and works well or they wouldn't have spent $100 million on a new factory. "Indeed, at the factory opening, the company announced an additional $70 million investment to increase its capacity to help meet a backlog of orders." This will make unreliable green sources like solar & wind much more viable in the marketplace. Yeah, Immelt is buddy-buddy with Obozo and he will cuddle up to Romney in January. Like any good CEO, he works the system. He didn't write the tax code, our elected idiots did. It's his job as CEO to maximize profits for his shareholders. I'm sure most of you people ranting on GE are owners of the stock in your 401K. It's still a cheap stock that pays a good dividend. There is no bad news in this article.
bar1035 Champion Author Charlotte Posts:9,343 Points:1,325,920 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Jul 13, 2012 7:44:04 AM Ignore bar1035 Report Abuse Counting on a re-election are they
gs7101 Champion Author San Antonio Posts:5,658 Points:396,020 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Jul 13, 2012 7:39:37 AM Ignore gs7101 Report Abuse Good luck to GE.
mwc407 Champion Author North Carolina Posts:1,095 Points:575,635 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Jul 13, 2012 7:35:09 AM Ignore mwc407 Report Abuse Yet another great example of why I should have paid better attention in science class. Props to GE on this one!
335d1 Champion Author Virginia Posts:2,524 Points:786,745 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Jul 13, 2012 7:29:35 AM Ignore 335d1 Report Abuse Interesting development.
TravelinMan52 Champion Author Augusta Posts:2,065 Points:991,345 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Jul 13, 2012 6:55:09 AM Ignore TravelinMan52 Report Abuse Is innovation working here?
humblepie Champion Author Toledo Posts:35,329 Points:2,399,070 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Jul 13, 2012 6:31:17 AM Ignore humblepie Report Abuse built in china with american tax dollars
nfldude Champion Author San Diego Posts:4,063 Points:472,755 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Jul 13, 2012 5:08:28 AM Ignore nfldude Report Abuse how much tax money for Obama's buddy Jeff Immelt?
Bussman Champion Author Dallas Posts:5,668 Points:1,386,910 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Jul 13, 2012 4:21:52 AM Ignore Bussman Report Abuse Keep innovating.
Point__man Champion Author Raleigh Posts:4,477 Points:905,395 Joined:Oct 2010	Message Posted: Jul 13, 2012 1:57:10 AM Ignore Point__man Report Abuse How much will the batteries cost us in order to pay the rich executives and build that factory or are the taxpayers footing the bill here too ;)
Dodge_Me Champion Author Atlanta Posts:2,214 Points:576,480 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Jul 13, 2012 1:46:59 AM Ignore Dodge_Me Report Abuse I like your point "LQQKGAS"
johnd900 Veteran Author Massachusetts Posts:475 Points:192,305 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Jul 13, 2012 1:43:37 AM Ignore johnd900 Report Abuse Wonder when GE will start paying taxes like the rest of us!
hubcapLA Champion Author Louisiana Posts:3,905 Points:940,435 Joined:Apr 2009	Message Posted: Jul 13, 2012 1:43:22 AM Ignore hubcapLA Report Abuse Good if it helps extend battery life
2bigtanks All-Star Author Akron Posts:772 Points:371,610 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Jul 13, 2012 1:41:11 AM Ignore 2bigtanks Report Abuse In Schenectady NY even, good. Way to go GE. Bring it home!
TBONE3 Champion Author Pennsylvania Posts:8,881 Points:2,004,125 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Jul 13, 2012 1:29:07 AM Ignore TBONE3 Report Abuse Bring it on!!!!
boatfloyd Champion Author Jacksonville Posts:1,858 Points:415,675 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Jul 13, 2012 1:26:10 AM Ignore boatfloyd Report Abuse Great to have a new battery.
Saturn93 Champion Author Salt Lake City Posts:7,292 Points:1,640,885 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Jul 13, 2012 1:24:09 AM Ignore Saturn93 Report Abuse Good for them.
HYEgasCA Champion Author Fresno Posts:2,126 Points:933,975 Joined:Dec 2008	Message Posted: Jul 13, 2012 1:15:43 AM Ignore HYEgasCA Report Abuse Isnt GE in bed w/ Obama!! Boy you never hear bad thing out of the mouths of Marxist, when we hear GE.
Liefhebber Champion Author Chicago Posts:2,525 Points:394,550 Joined:May 2012	Message Posted: Jul 13, 2012 1:14:51 AM Ignore Liefhebber Report Abuse A small battery might be on every car some day.
JSX515 Champion Author St. Louis Posts:3,856 Points:829,295 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Jul 13, 2012 1:12:50 AM Ignore JSX515 Report Abuse Death to ge
krobp46 Champion Author Milwaukee Posts:2,853 Points:568,345 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Jul 13, 2012 1:12:16 AM Ignore krobp46 Report Abuse However, if they received a loan from the US government, i.e., Obama, chances are they will lay everyone off in 6 months and declare bankruptcy
flyfast Champion Author Kansas City Posts:9,391 Points:1,853,695 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Jul 13, 2012 1:11:40 AM Ignore flyfast Report Abuse Wate and see
jrcowell Champion Author Wichita Posts:2,274 Points:482,795 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: Jul 13, 2012 1:10:07 AM Ignore jrcowell Report Abuse I will believe it will last a decade when I see it last a decade. Haven't seen much hope in that kind of promise over the many years of using battery-powered devices.
RENEGADEGAS Champion Author Missouri Posts:15,069 Points:1,618,825 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Jul 13, 2012 1:08:52 AM Ignore RENEGADEGAS Report Abuse Z51Corvette ... Looks like payback time for being the largest contributor to his election campaign. Free money!
Z51Corvette Champion Author Austin Posts:8,608 Points:1,697,410 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Jul 13, 2012 1:07:17 AM Ignore Z51Corvette Report Abuse Oh.... I forgot. I hope this battery WORKS!
Z51Corvette Champion Author Austin Posts:8,608 Points:1,697,410 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Jul 13, 2012 1:06:44 AM Ignore Z51Corvette Report Abuse Simulus check... lol... paid no taxes... well time they ponied UP!!! I could use some stimulus money... where's my share! GE is not the friendly company we remember it used to be...
Thomtec Champion Author Nashville Posts:2,600 Points:635,395 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Jul 13, 2012 1:04:08 AM Ignore Thomtec Report Abuse I'm sure Barry's buddy Jeffrey Imelt of GE got a big Simulus check to build this plant. Remember GE paid NO federal income taxes last year.
Ron77095 Champion Author Houston Posts:3,200 Points:630,375 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Jul 13, 2012 1:03:33 AM Ignore Ron77095 Report Abuse Ugh.
Bruno44 Champion Author Texas Posts:7,217 Points:1,795,895 Joined:Sep 2007	Message Posted: Jul 13, 2012 1:03:28 AM Ignore Bruno44 Report Abuse Surprized that ge didn't put it with all their china operations.
hiwayhauler Sophomore Author Texas Posts:222 Points:342,440 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Jul 13, 2012 1:02:51 AM Ignore hiwayhauler Report Abuse Gotta love GE slip out a little of technology as they see fit and just trickle a few jobs in the states here and there. Then they build all sorts of things out of the USA and employ thousands.
LQQKGAS Champion Author Phoenix Posts:2,770 Points:1,222,675 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Jul 13, 2012 1:01:19 AM Ignore LQQKGAS Report Abuse Need to sell a lot of batteries to pay for a $100,000,000.00 factory.
Godozo All-Star Author Gary Posts:723 Points:581,590 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Jul 13, 2012 1:01:06 AM Ignore Godozo Report Abuse A solid battery that doesn't need to be constantly cooled and can last a long time – if this can be shrunk, imagine portables that don't heat up, cell phone batteries that don't heat up and the ability to use energy for decades from this.
RabunDog Champion Author Georgia Posts:2,995 Points:1,241,085 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Jul 13, 2012 12:59:49 AM Ignore RabunDog Report Abuse ok