Ambri - Model LMB - Liquid Metal Battery
Ambri’s product is a ready-to-install DC containerized system, complete with shelves of cells, thermal management, weatherproof outer enclosure, and a battery management system (BMS), for applications that require high energy capacity, frequent cycling, long life and high efficiency. Cells are assembled onto trays and connected within a thermal enclosure to form a MWh-scale system, which is separately then coupled to the grid using standard industrial DC-AC bi-directional inverters. The system is insulated and “self-heating” when operated, requiring no external heating/cooling to keep the batteries at operating temperature. Multiple systems placed together on site are connected in parallel, enabling unlimited upward scalability for large-scale projects.
Details
- Capacity: 1000 kWh, 250 kW
- DC Efficiency: exceeds 80% under wide range of use cases
- Response time:
- Voltage: 500 —1500 V
- Footprint: 10-foot shipping container
General Specifications
- Dimensions (including high temperature seal) : 216 mm L x 137 mm W x 254 mm H (8.5” x 5.4” x 10.0”)
- Mass : 56 lbs
- Cell enclosure material : Stainless steel
- Nominal OCV : 0.95 V
- Nominal capacity : 800 Ah
- Nominal continuous power : 160 W
- Cycling voltage range : 1.25 – 0.5 V
Specifications subject to change without notice and not intended for use as design reference. Contact Ambri for latest information.
Ambri’s initial commercial cell delivers the...
Ambri’s initial commercial cell delivers the performance and safety benefits unique to Ambri technology
Each Ambri cell is comprised of a robust stainless-steel housing, a positively polarized case, and a negative terminal protruding from the center of the lid.
During transportation, cells are shipped at ambient temperature and are inactive; they have zero cell voltage and are unable to pass current, offering significant safety advantages during assembly and transportation.
Once delivered on-site, heaters within the system bring the cells up to their operating temperature, which activates them and allows them to start storing or returning electrical energy.
Although the system is expected to remain at operating temperature continuously for the life of the system, cells are designed to undergo dozens of thermal cycles, from room temperature to 500 °C, without impacting cell performance.
Cells are also highly tolerant of over-charging or over-discharging, and are not subject to thermal runaway, electrolyte decomposition, or electrolyte off-gassing, each of which could lead to significant safety events with other cell chemistries,
The Ambri battery platform
Game-changing technology
The liquid metal battery is comprised of a liquid calcium alloy anode, a molten salt electrolyte and a cathode comprised of solid particles of antimony, enabling the use of low-cost materials and a low number of steps in the cell assembly process.
The active materials in Ambri’s cells revers...
The active materials in Ambri’s cells reversibly alloy and de-alloy while charging and discharging. The electrolyte is thermodynamically stable with the electrodes, avoiding unwanted side reactions such as film-formation that can degrade the performance of other cell chemistries. Furthermore, the negative electrode is fully consumed when discharged, and then is reformed on every cycle, resulting in a highly repeatable process with no memory effect.
With these unique operating characteristics, Ambri’s liquid metal battery technology avoids common degradation mechanisms that cause capacity fade in other chemistries.
High-temperature Chemistry
At room temperature, Ambri’s cell is non-conductive and its active materials are solid metals and a solid electrolyte. Upon heating to 500°C temperature, Ambri-based battery systems operate at maximum performance level no matter the external temperature and require no power-hungry air conditioning.
Ambri-based systems generate their own heat during use, thereby eliminating the need for auxiliary power for temperature control. These systems like to be used – a full charge/discharge cycle at least every two days will keep the system at its operating temperature and higher duty cycles will not increase degradation.
Zero Maintenance
Ambri’s commercial systems will be packaged in 550 – 1150 VDC containers with up to 1 MWh of capacity. These containers will be factory assembled and shipped to site fully populated and sealed. Each of these containers will contain no replaceable or serviceable components. This eliminates on-site maintenance and means that the container becomes the modular and replaceable system component. For projects with 10 or more containers connected in parallel at the DC side of site PCS, system reliability is enhanced through N+1 redundancy at the container level.
Lowest Cost Energy Storage System
Ambri cells utilize commonly available electrode materials that cost 1/3 of those in NMC lithium-ion cells. The manufacturing of Ambri cells is far simpler and requires 1/3 to 1/2 the capital expense per MWh of production than lithium-ion. Furthermore, Ambri-based systems do not have cooling, fire suppression or module- and rack-based BMS equipment as lithium ion-systems require. For these reasons, long-duration Ambri-based battery systems are a fraction of the cost of lithium-ion when comparing 20-year, eight-hour-duration systems.
Lithium-ion batteries are projected to drop in price from current levels to less than $100/kWh at some time in the mid to late 2020s. Even compared to this low future lithium-ion price of $100/kWh, these energy storage systems will be significantly more expensive than Ambri-based battery systems.
Not lithium-ion
No risk of combustion
Ambri energy storage systems will answer the world-wide need for grid storage with an efficient and safe system. As lithium-ion batteries have flooded the market for grid storage, opportunities for safer, longer life batteries for long-duration applications have emerged.
To date over 20 lithium-ion energy storage systems have resulted in explosions or fires. Ambri batteries are not explosive, combustive or temperature sensitive. No level of overcharging, over-discharging, short circuiting or temperature has caused any safety concerns with these cells.
Ambri has engaged with Underwriters Laboratories to develop an appropriate set of safety tests for the certification of Ambri cells. Ambri’s cells have demonstrated passing of these tests with ease.
Benefits
Reliable + safe
Ambri cells operate with no moving parts in a simple construction that is completely sealed. Systems are designed to provide a redundant system configuration.
After commissioning, the systems do not require heating or air conditioning. They are self-heated and self-regulated. Uniquely, Ambri batteries work best when used daily, unlike lithium-ion batteries that degrade faster with more use.
The batteries are free from the dangers plaguing other batteries, and are tolerant of short circuits, over-charge, and over-discharge. They are not susceptible to combustion (thermal runaway) or ignition from external fire sources. Made with low toxicity substances which are not subject to RoHs restrictions, Ambri cells are safe for transportation and usage worldwide.
Lower cost
The calcium and antimony electrodes in Ambri cells are less than one third the cost of the lithium, nickel, manganese and cobalt in the most common lithium-ion cells. Ambri cells are projected to be priced at less than lithium-ion cells for commercial deliveries starting in 2022.
Lowest system capital cost
Ambri-based systems do not need cooling, fire suppression or module and rack based battery management system equipment, as lithium-ion systems require. Due to minimal degradation, Ambri cells do not require additional energy capacity at the beginning of life or a mid-life augmentation in order to achieve 20 years of operating life. For these reasons, Ambri-based systems are projected to cost 30% – 50% below equivalent lithium-ion systems from 2022 – 2030 even after accounting for the aggressive cell price reductions that are forecast for the incumbent product.
Low operating cost
Ambri-based systems operate without the auxiliary electricity cost for cooling which is an enormous advantage in hot environments where most solar-plus-storage installations are located.
Available materials
The materials inside the system, calcium and antimony, are commonly available as commodities and sourced from multiple locations.
Each GWh of Ambri batteries requires less than 1% of current annual production of these anode and cathode materials.
No cobalt is used in Ambri batteries, a common ingredient in lithium-ion batteries.
Quickly implemented
- Pre-fabricated for rapid deployment demands
- On site installation of pre-fabricated Ambri-based systems are more rapidly deployed than today’s energy storage technologies that require on-site system assembly. This more closely aligns the installation of Ambri’s energy storage systems with the speed of solar installations.
- 100MW of solar power plus Ambri storage would be installed within six months. Conventional power plants require over five years.
Modular configuration
- Scalable to meet demand for GWh-sized deployments
- For GWh-sized deployments, Ambri-based 1-MWh systems are modular and scalable to meet demand.
- Easily manufactured cells mean low-cost production plants in each major region.
- 20+ years lifetime
- Expect tens of thousands of cycles and decades of operation without the degradation experienced by other battery chemistries.
Not temperature sensitive
- High performance no matter the outdoor temperature.
- Ambri batteries operate at an internal temperature of 500˚ C which is not dependent on ambient temperature.
- Warm climates? Ambri systems operate at maximum performance level no matter the temperature and require no power hungry air conditioning. And, if you need grid-level storage in the Arctic Region, the cold temperatures will have no effect. Ambri batteries are not explosive, combustive, or subject to thermal runaway.
Rapid response capability
- Consumers expect electricity at all times without brownouts, blackouts or voltage spikes.
- The system is able to provide fast response for frequency regulation applications, while also offering long-duration performance for reserve capacity markets.
- GreenAmbri batteries are responsibly produced and their materials can be reused.
- The units are made with commonly available and low toxicity materials that are easily recyclable.
- Ambri-based systems, which shift energy from peak generation time-of-day to low generation periods, will enable large-scale solar and wind farms to replace coal, oil and natural gas peaker plants.
Benefits
Poised for success
The Ambri Liquid Metal Battery is uniquely poised for success in long duration energy storage markets.
- Low cost: energy storage system CapEx at 25% below 4-hour Li-ion systems
- Long life: 20+ years lifespan with minimal fade
- Safe: no gas generated, no thermal runaway
Reliable + safe
Ambri cells operate with no moving parts in a simple construction that is completely sealed. Systems are designed to provide a redundant system configuration.
After commissioning, the systems do not require heating or air conditioning. They are self-heated and self-regulated. Uniquely, Ambri batteries work best when used daily, unlike lithium-ion batteries that degrade faster with more use.
The batteries are free from the dangers plaguing other batteries, and are tolerant of short circuits, over-charge, and over-discharge. They are not susceptible to combustion (thermal runaway) or ignition from external fire sources. Made with low toxicity substances which are not subject to RoHs restrictions, Ambri cells are safe for transportation and usage worldwide.
Lower cost
The calcium and antimony electrodes in Ambri cells are less than one third the cost of the lithium, nickel, manganese and cobalt in the most common lithium-ion cells. Ambri cells are projected to be priced at less than lithium-ion cells for commercial deliveries starting in 2022.
Lowest system capital cost
Ambri-based systems do not need cooling, fire suppression or module and rack based battery management system equipment, as lithium-ion systems require. Due to minimal degradation, Ambri cells do not require additional energy capacity at the beginning of life or a mid-life augmentation in order to achieve 20 years of operating life. For these reasons, Ambri-based systems are projected to cost 30% – 50% below equivalent lithium-ion systems from 2022 – 2030 even after accounting for the aggressive cell price reductions that are forecast for the incumbent product.
Low operating cost
Ambri-based systems operate without the auxiliary electricity cost for cooling which is an enormous advantage in hot environments where most solar-plus-storage installations are located.
Available materials
The materials inside the system, calcium and antimony, are commonly available as commodities and sourced from multiple locations.
Each GWh of Ambri batteries requires less than 1% of current annual production of these anode and cathode materials.
No cobalt is used in Ambri batteries, a common ingredient in lithium-ion batteries.
Quickly implemented
Pre-fabricated for rapid deployment demands. On site installation of pre-fabricated Ambri-based systems are more rapidly deployed than today’s energy storage technologies that require on-site system assembly. This more closely aligns the installation of Ambri’s energy storage systems with the speed of solar installations.
100MW of solar power plus Ambri storage would be installed within six months. Conventional power plants require over five years.
Modular configuration
Scalable to meet demand for GWh-sized deployments. For GWh-sized deployments, Ambri-based 1-MWh systems are modular and scalable to meet demand. Easily manufactured cells mean low-cost production plants in each major region.
Not temperature sensitive
High performance no matter the outdoor temperature. Ambri batteries operate at an internal temperature of 500° C which is not dependent on ambient temperature. Warm climates? Ambri systems operate at maximum performance level no matter the temperature and require no power hungry air conditioning. And, if you need grid-level storage in the Arctic Region, the cold temperatures will have no effect. Ambri batteries are not explosive, combustive, or subject to thermal runaway.
Rapid response capability
Consumers expect electricity at all times without brownouts, blackouts or voltage spikes. The system is able to provide fast response for frequency regulation applications, while also offering long-duration performance for reserve capacity markets.
Green
Ambri batteries are responsibly produced and their materials can be reused. The units are made with commonly available and low toxicity materials that are easily recyclable. Ambri-based systems, which shift energy from peak generation time-of-day to low generation periods, will enable large-scale solar and wind farms to replace coal, oil and natural gas peaker plants.
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