Battery Center Growing Global Partnerships
The lab will allow for testing and certification for most performance
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe chief operating officer of the Battery Innovation Center near the Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center says partnerships are helping create worldwide connections for the region and the state. Ben Wrightsman says the BIC is collaborating with the likes of Underwriters Laboratories LLC and Duke Energy Corp. (NYSE: DUK) and has a newly-detailed agreement with Chroma Systems Solutions Inc. in California to create a micro-grid test environment. Chroma provides power conversion testing equipment and automated systems.
Chroma says its technology is at the heart of the BIC’s micro-grid testing capabilities. Wrightsman says "Chroma has been a great partner with the BIC on this ongoing platform, and their industry leading Grid Simulators are allowing us to perform critical performance testing, along with new to industry certifications. The units have proven robust under the duration of testing, and the support and response from Chroma has been exceptional."
Recently, the BIC and NSWC Crane signed-on to what is being touted as a "landmark" partnership. The agreement was profiled earlier this month in our quarterly INPower e-newsletter. It establishes a public-private partnership, helping the BIC gain access to $100 million worth of labs and technology.
UL’s relationship with BIC involves a Battery and Energy Storage Technology Test Center to assist with commercial certifications for production by energy storage companies. Duke Energy Indiana has previously detailed a $1 million partnership with the BIC that involves studying the effects of battery storage on renewable power sources like rooftop solar panels and small wind turbines.
Wrightsman says the center is looking to share its knowledge with the rest of the industry and has launched a series on storage technologies and the electrical grid.
Wrightsman tells Inside INdiana Business the collaboration will have an impact on the industry in Indiana.