Ameren Missouri Advances In The Clean Energy Transition With Stationary Lead Battery Technology

(MENAFN- PR Newswire)

ST. LOUIS, Dec. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Ameren
Missouri, battery developer and manufacturer GS
Yuasa , and Siemens have recently marked a milestone in the clean energy transition by successfully implementing a cutting-edge, first-of-its-kind Managed EV Charging and Microgrid platform. Powered in part by stationary advanced lead-acid batteries, and soon-to-be integrated solar panels, this innovative system is now operational at Ameren's St. Louis campus.

"This groundbreaking project has far-reaching implications for economic development and industry advancement," said Alex Rojas, director of innovation implementation and strategy at Ameren Services. "By demonstrating the feasibility and benefits of electrifying fleet vehicles, Ameren aims to inspire commercial and institutional fleet vehicle owners and operators to embrace cleaner, more sustainable transportation solutions. The system's ability to address relevant business and operational needs, such as fire safety, energy resiliency, demand charge management and demand response offers a compelling value proposition for these organizations."

The installation is a result of collaboration between companies to develop a more economical and
sustainable
option
for
EV
fast-charging.
The
Consortium
for
Battery Innovation (CBI) guided and supported the industry towards this type of innovation. Ameren Missouri will use the station to power its fleet of electric service vehicles.

The new charging station employs stationary advanced lead batteries. The EV chargers pull energy from the electric grid, the stationary lead battery and solar panels as needed. The information technology system optimizes the use of energy by the EV chargers to maximize clean energy sources and minimize cost.

"This is potentially game-changing for EV charging in the United States," said CBI's Director of Technology Dr. Matt Raiford. "The system is easy to replicate, will use renewable energy and adopts the latest battery and battery management technologies to provide efficient EV charging. This is a sustainable and intelligent charging system. It can be housed virtually anywhere,
which
opens
up
the
ability to
extend
efficient
and
cost-effective
charging facilities
in both rural and city locations."

The
sustainable
process
uses
advanced
lead
batteries
in
an
energy
storage
system
forming
a microgrid
which
backs-up
the
EV
chargers –
reducing
cost
and
improving
reliability
as
two
of
its capabilities.

The charging system is a first in the United States and if it continues to prove its safety and performance, could be
rolled out
across the country improving access to EV
charging facilities and reducing cost.

Demand
for
EV
charging infrastructure
and
smart
grid
technology
is
substantial,
with
forecasts that
the
number
of
charging points could
grow
nearly
five-fold
in
the
near
future . The deployment of this innovative Ameren facility using advanced lead batteries from GS Yuasa could prove
to
be
a
model
for
both improving
access to charging facilities as
well
as
reducing cost for operators.

"The battery energy storage system (BESS) we have designed utilizes our advanced nano- carbon lead batteries along with battery management and power conversion systems, housed in containers on site," said Bill Cunningham, GS Yuasa's Vice President of Sales and Marketing. "This is an energy storage process that can be adopted virtually anywhere because our batteries are reliable, high-performing and cost-efficient over their lifetime."

The one-megawatt-hour microgrid includes GS Yuasa's advanced lead batteries capable of more than 5000 cycles, making the system durable, long-lasting and cost efficient. Lead batteries are more than 99% recycled at the end of their use and their components used to manufacture new batteries. The Doe Run Company, an Ameren customer and fellow Missouri business, is a global supplier to the lead market and recycles more than 8 million lead batteries each year. Doe Run was instrumental in bringing Ameren together in collaboration with CBI and GS Yuasa to develop this technology.

Note
to
editors:

The EV
charging
and
microgrid
facility will
be
officially
opened
on
December
11
from
11:00
am-12:00 pm
EST

Media
are
invited
to
attend
the
event.

Please contact:

Emily
Rau

[email protected]

314-496-1242

For
more
information
on
the
system,
the
following
are
available
for
interviews:

Consortium for Battery Innovation

Dr.
Matt
Raiford,
Technical
Director

[email protected]

Ameren
Services

Alex Rojas, Director of Innovation

[email protected]

GS Yuasa

Bill Cunningham, Vice President of Sales and Marketing

[email protected]

SOURCE GS Yuasa Energy Solutions, Inc.

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