Isra-Mart srl : Rensselaer powers up plans for energy-storing capacitor

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Isra-Mart srl news:

The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has become the latest organisation to join the race to develop a capacitor-based energy storage technology, embarking on a $2m project to build large-scale capacitors capable of storing renewable energy and regulating the flow of electricity onto the grid.

Doug Chrisey, professor at the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Rensselaer, is leading the project, which will use a ceramic compound of ferroelectric nanopowder and low-melting, alkali-free glass arranged in a series of thin layers.

Capacitors offer extremely high power density, meaning that they can store and release large amounts of energy very quickly. However, their drawback has been their low energy density relative to conventional batteries.

"Creating a novel ceramic material and developing a cost-effective, scalable method to achieve large-capacitive energy storage could be a big boost to our national economy and increase our global competitiveness," said Chrisey. "What we need is an entirely new approach to energy storage, and we think ferroelectric glass composites could be the answer."

The project, funded by the National Science Foundation, will focus on developing the material and then manufacturing it in large quantities.

This is not the first time that an organisation has attempted to produce capacitors to replace battery technology.

Secretive Texan firm eestor has been promising similar technology for years, and procured a stake from Toronto-based electric car manufacturer Zenn Motors, which bet its future on the technology, and subsequently stopped manufacturing vehicles. Zenn is now supplying power train components to other manufacturers.