US-based EnerVenue has launched its Energy Rack, a 150 kWh plug-and-play DC storage system using NASA-derived Aqueous Metal Cell technology. The company claims the metal-hydrogen battery platform offers up to 30,000 cycles, reduced thermal management requirements, and a 30-year design life for utility-scale applications.
US-headquartered metal-hydrogen battery manufacturer Enervenue has launched its Energy Rack, a plug-and-play DC storage block designed for utility-scale and commercial energy storage projects with expected lifetimes of 20 to 30 years.
The company said the new system is based on its Aqueous Metal Cell (AMC) technology, which combines long cycle life, high power capability, and safety characteristics designed to reduce system complexity.
The AMC chemistry was adapted from nickel-hydrogen battery technology originally developed by NASA and used in space applications for more than three decades. Unlike conventional lithium-ion batteries, the technology uses a water-based electrolyte, which EnerVenue said reduces the need for complex thermal management systems, auxiliary heating and cooling, and additional fire suppression equipment. The company said that under extreme operating conditions or mechanical abuse, the cells are designed to release steam through a pressure-relief mechanism rather than undergo thermal runaway or propagate fire.
“The cell is rated for 30,000 charge cycles, equivalent to up to three cycles per day over 30 years, compared with around 4,000 cycles for a typical lithium-ion cell. It contains no lithium or rare earth materials and operates from -10 C to 45 C in service,” a company spokesperson told pv magazine. “Its main materials include steel, nickel, glass-fibre composite, and a water-based electrolyte, while the nickel can be recovered and reused at end of life.”
The Energy Rack is a 150 kWh modular DC storage unit operating at up to 1,500 Vdc. Each unit measures 1,456 mm × 2,190 mm × 2,466 mm and weighs approximately 5,000 kg. According to EnerVenue, the racks are delivered as fully integrated systems, including the company’s AMC cells, a Battery Management System (BMS), and internal power connections and wiring.
The stackable design is intended to improve space efficiency for large-scale deployments, while the units can be installed indoors or within outdoor IP-rated enclosures, the manufacturer said.
The system has a voltage operating range of 1,075 Vdc to 1,500 Vdc, a rack-level round-trip efficiency of at least 85%, and supports charge and discharge rates of up to 10C, according to EnerVenue.
The AMC cells are large-format tubular batteries measuring 191 mm × 2,078 mm and providing 3.0 kWh of energy capacity at 100% depth of discharge. The company said the cells can operate across a temperature range of -20 C to 60 C and achieve a peak round-trip efficiency of 87% at 25 C. They support both constant-current and constant-power operation modes.
EnerVenue said testing under the UL 9540A standard showed no risk of fire from thermal runaway, which could help simplify permitting requirements and reduce balance-of-system and insurance costs.
The Energy Rack has received certifications including UL 9540, UL 9540A, UL 1973, IEC 62933-5-2, IEC 63115-2, and IEC 62477-1. The company is positioning the system as a long-duration energy storage option for applications where cycle life, safety, and lifecycle costs are key considerations.
In November 2023, the company launched a racking system which can integrate the ESVs in either 150 kWh or 102 kWh configurations.
This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: [email protected].
