Dynapower President Helps Home State on Climate & Other News from Go Electric and Aquion

July 26, 2017
Dynapower’s president to help home state bring energy storage to climate action…Go Electric wins contract for Utah military microgrid…Aquion back from bankruptcy
Dynapower president to help home state bring energy storage to climate action

Adam Knudsen, Dynapower president

Vermont wants to link its climate and economic goals, and has tapped Adam Knudsen, president of Vermont-based Dynapower, to show how energy storage can help.

Gov. Phil Scott has appointed Knudsen to the state’s newly formed Vermont Climate Action Commission.

The state was one of the first to begin setting climate goals in 2006. Vermont’s latest goals call for a 40 percent reduction in greenhouse gases by 2030 and 80 to 95 percent by 2050.

Now it’s intertwining those goals with economic growth.

Renewables, alone, are already boosting the economy, according to Scott, who said solar jobs have grown 30 percent since 2013 in the state.

“Dynamically enhancing our grid to reliably integrate as much clean renewable energy as possible is one of the keys to addressing climate change, both here in Vermont and abroad,” said Knudsen. “Energy storage is key to optimizing the use of energy on the grid, including the large scale integration of renewables into the grid.”

Dynapower has connected over 375 MW of energy storage inverters worldwide, including in Vermont at Stafford Hill microgrid and at its own corporate headquarters in South Burlington.

Go Electric wins contract for Utah military microgrid

Go Electric has won a $1.7 million contract to provide a 1MW/1MWh grid-tied battery energy storage system for a military microgrid at the Tooele Army Depot (TEAD) in Tooele, Utah.

The battery system includes Go Electric’s AutoLYNC microgrid controller, which will allow the base to manage and optimize multiple alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) distributed energy resources. The battery system will give TEAD peak-shaving and black start capabilities, reactive and uninterruptible power supply, and utility voltage and frequency support.

Indiana-based Go Electric will provide engineering and design services, and will support commissioning of TEAD’s microgrid system.

Aquion back from bankruptcy

Aquion Energy, known for its saltwater batteries, has emerged from Chapter 11, and says it plans a rapid rebuild.

“Aquion Energy will be a stronger company after emerging from this protection transition period,” said Philip Juline, CEO. “We are refocused on technology and go-to-market opportunities that will grow significant volume for the company in the coming years.”

Among other things, Aquion intends to expand into China and other global markets, with the intent “to deliver the lowest price per kWh-cycle battery in the world,” according to a company news release.

The Pittsburgh-based company filed for bankruptcy in May and terminated 80 percent of its workforce, citing difficulty commercializing its new electrochemistry.

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About the Author

Elisa Wood | Editor-in-Chief

Elisa Wood is an award-winning writer and editor who specializes in the energy industry. She is chief editor and co-founder of Microgrid Knowledge and serves as co-host of the publication’s popular conference series. She also co-founded RealEnergyWriters.com, where she continues to lead a team of energy writers who produce content for energy companies and advocacy organizations.

She has been writing about energy for more than two decades and is published widely. Her work can be found in prominent energy business journals as well as mainstream publications. She has been quoted by NPR, the Wall Street Journal and other notable media outlets.

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