Flow batteries are generally recognized as the most technically mature alternative to lithium ion for grid storage. In this virtual battery seminar video Primus Power CEO Tom Stepien discusses where flow is well suited, flow system characteristics, and flow's levelized cost of energy.
News & Press Releases
Technion and Primus working together to optimize batteries
Israel-based Technion and US-based Primus Power are working to create affordable, rechargeable batteries to store solar and wind power that could bring Israel to forefront of renewables revolution.
The Future of Energy Storage Beyond Li Ion
A wide range of alternative chemistries, configurations and battery systems are well suited for stationary applications, as this CNBC video explores.
Energy storage: it’s not just about lithium ion batteries
As CleanTechnica highlights there are many type of stationary energy storage solutions, including Primus Power's long duration flow battery.
Primus view of the energy storage landscape
Primus Power's Tom Stepien sits down with Donald Klein for a CUBEConversation about the stationary energy storage landscape.
Energy storage to grow 122x to $662B over the next two decades
Energy storage installations around the world will multiply exponentially, from a modest 9 GW / 17 GWh deployed as of 2018 to 1,095 GW / 2,850 GWh by 2040, according to the latest forecast from research company BloombergNEF.
California Energy Commission awards Primus $4M to advance manufacturing of long duration batteries
The CEC granted funds to scale up the California-based production of our low-cost, highly patented EnergyPods
Microgrid helps Chemehuevi Reservation generate reliability and savings
A Primus EnergyPod is a key component of a solar + storage microgrid at the Chemehuevi Indian Tribe Community Center in Lake Havasu, California. The microgrid provides reliable power and reduces electricity costs.
Primus named to 2019 Global Cleantech 100
Out of 13,000 innovators from 90 countries Primus secured a place in the prestigious 2019 Global Cleantech 100
BIRD Energy awards Primus and Technion a grant for higher energy density batteries
BIRD Energy's Program "brings together the brightest minds from innovative companies and institutes to develop and commercialize new energy technologies that deliver tangible economic benefits" according to U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry.
Stationary Energy Storage: a $620 billion market!
Bloomberg New Energy Finance's recently released Long-Term Energy Storage Outlook estimates the global energy storage market will grow to a cumulative 942 GW - 2,857 GWh by 2040, attracting $620 billion investment.
Flow batteries are ready for prime time
Flow batteries beat lithium ion prices for peaker plant replacements. They have similarly strong economics against diesel gensets in microgrids. To win in the commercial/industrial and utility markets flow must prove bankability and demonstrate a total cost advantage against incumbents. Primus has a clear path to both with a very low material cost, long fade-free life and product/project insurance tools.
100% Renewable is 100% Doable!
The goal of reaching 100% renewable electricity in California is “100% doable”, Jorg Heinemann, the chief commercial officer of zinc bromine flow battery maker Primus Power, told Energy-Storage.news at Solar Power International/Energy Storage International.
ARPA-E awards Primus $3.5M to further enable long duration energy storage on the electric grid
Transformational Energy Technology! That’s how the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) characterizes Primus Power’s innovative energy storage technology. We are excited to share that we received a $3.5 million award from the Agency’s new competitive Duration Addition to electricitY Storage (DAYS) program.
Victor Valley Wastewater Reclamation Authority uses EnergyPods to harvest and redeploy excess renewable energy
The Victor Valley Wastewater Reclamation Authority (VVWRA) in Victorville, California has an ambitious strategy to become energy neutral by supplying all of its energy needs through onsite renewable sources. VVWRA will use stored renewable power in Primus EnergyPods to meet peak demand rather than relying on grid-supplied electricity.
Renewables + Long Duration Storage for Optimal Economics
In an interview with the Energy Storage Association Jorg Heinemann, Primus Power’s Chief Commercial Officer, explains how long duration storage is an integral part of renewable energy economics.
Anglo American Platinum to Install EnergyPods at Amandelbult Mine
Anglo American Platinum, the world’s leading primary producer of platinum group metals with mining, smelting and refining operations based in South Africa, will install eight EnergyPod® 2 battery systems at their Amandelbult mine, in the Limpopo province. The Primus flow batteries reduce electricity costs and improve energy security.
Goldwind Installs Primus EnergyPod at Beijing Campus
Goldwind is a world-leading wind turbine manufacturer. In late 2017 their microgrid subsidiary, Etechwin, installed an EnergyPod at their Beijing campus. The Primus battery system will help Goldwind's customers reduce the curtailment of wind.
Primus Power: Light Bearer of Flow Batteries – Energy CIO Insights
Cities are betting upon the decentralized, bi-directional distribution capabilities of smart grids to tap energy from both conventional and non-conventional resources. However, intermittencies in the availability of clean energy from sources such as wind and solar, call for efficient means of energy storage. California-based Primus Power has positioned itself as the light bearer of battery technologies for the smart grid.
Primus Adds Jorg Heinemann as Chief Commercial Officer
Primus is pleased to announce the appointment of renewable industry veteran Jorg Heinemann as Chief Commercial Officer. Mr. Heinemann brings to Primus over twenty five years of worldwide experience in the energy sector, including eight years at SunPower, where, as Executive Vice President Global System Sales, Engineering, Procurement and Construction, he led the successful implementation of more than 2,000 MW of solar power plants.
Primus Power named to Global Cleantech 100
Primus Power was named in the prestigious 2018 Global Cleantech 100. The List, produced by Cleantech Group, recognizes the top private companies in clean technology. Primus was chosen from over 12,000 nominations by a peer-reviewed process.
HCP installing Primus energy storage systems at life science buildings
Today Primus announced that it has received orders to install flow battery systems at multiple life science buildings owned by HCP, Inc (NYSE: HCP), a fully integrated real estate investment trust that invests primarily in real estate serving the healthcare industry in the US. Primus EnergyPods generate savings by storing electricity during times of low price and demand, and releasing it back at times of high price and demand.
Go with the flow when it comes to long duration storage
Lithium ion leads the commercial energy storage market now, but other types of batteries may actually be more cost-effective and reliable in applications that require longer duration storage. One of those alternatives is flow batteries and Primus Power, in particular, has found its sweet spot in large renewable energy applications.
Puget Sound Energy Adopts Primus Power Battery Storage System
Today Primus Power (“Primus”), a leader in stationary energy storage systems, and Puget Sound Energy (“PSE”), Washington state’s largest utility, announced the installation of a stationary energy storage system at one of its renewable generation facilities. The flow battery system, a Primus EnergyPod® 2, was installed in September 2017. Primus received partial funding for the installation through the Technology Innovation Project grant
Primus Power received Federal Energy Award for Battery Storage Project: Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, CA
In 2016, MCAS Miramar successfully demonstrated the islanding capability of a 250 kilowatts of battery storage and a 230 kilowatt photovoltaic micro-grid system at the installation’s Public Works building. The project improves the base’s energy residency and demonstrates the technology’s capability for future micro-grid development, particularly micro-grids utilizing renewable energy as the primary source.
USTDA Connects U.S. Energy Industry to Business Opportunities in South Africa
Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Trade and Development Agency awarded a grant to Solafrica Energy (Pty) Ltd., a developer of utility-scale solar power plants in Southern Africa, for a pilot project that demonstrates the performance of an energy storage system based on Primus Power Corporation’s (California) EnergyPod2® technology.
Energy Commission’s Investment Helped Energize Battery Storage Company
Primus Power CEO Tom Stepien was asked recently what chance his company would have had in successfully developing its battery storage system without support from the California Energy Commission. His response was “darned near zero.”
Primus Power and OSIsoft Announce Partnership
HAYWARD, Calif., Sept. 11, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today Primus Power (“Primus”), a leader in stationary energy storage systems, announced a partnership with OSIsoft, LLC to integrate the PI System in the EnergyPod 2. The PI system is used by over 1,000 leading utilities, 95 percent of the largest oil and gas companies and increasingly in energy storage.
Amid push for workforce diversity, campaign works to include Bay Area residents with disabilities
Even as California’s unemployment rate has sunk to record lows in recent months, the population of people with intellectual or developmental disabilities has struggled with high levels of unemployment or underemployment. A collaboration among three Bay Area agencies and companies like Primus Power are trying to change that.
Primus Power and Foxsemicon Announce Manufacturing Agreement
HAYWARD, Calif., Aug. 02, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today Primus Power (“Primus”), a leader in stationary energy storage systems, announced a Manufacturing Services Agreement ("MSA") with Foxsemicon Integrated Technology, Inc ("Foxsemicon"). The MSA covers the assembly and testing of Primus’ EnergyPod long duration flow batteries.
Primus Power Announces Completion of $32M Financing Round
HAYWARD, CA, March 23, 2017 – Today Primus Power (“Primus”), a leader in stationary energy storage systems, announced that it has secured $32 million in equity financing. New investors include Hong Kong’s Success Dragon (HKG:1182) and Matador Capital, the investment office of a well known Saudi family. Existing investors Anglo American Platinum, DBL Partners, I2BF and the Russia Kazakhstan Nanotechnology Fund also participated
Primus Power Announces EnergyPod 2 · a Breakthrough in Low cost, Long-Duration Energy Storage
HAYWARD, CA, February 21, 2017 – Today Primus Power (“Primus”) announced production of EnergyPod 2, the second generation of its long duration, fade-free flow battery. Primus’ stationary battery systems serve the energy storage needs of corporations and utilities. With a five-hour duration and lab-certified 20-year life, EnergyPod 2 delivers a total cost of ownership up to 50% less than leading conventional lithium-ion battery systems
Primus Power Presents Innovative Energy Storage System, Sets Goal to Conquer Asia
ASTANA – Primus Power, a provider of long-life and long-duration energy storage systems, is working on its second project in Kazakhstan with Samruk Energy, a subsidiary of the Samruk Kazyna Sovereign Wealth Fund. Primus Power’s innovative EnergyPod has been used to deal with specific energy issues internationally, and now will be showcased as one of the best energy storage solutions at the upcoming EXPO 2017
ESTCP 2016 Project-of-the-Year Award for Energy and Water for Miramar MicroGrid November 28, 2016
The project successfully demonstrated the microgrid controller’s ability to integrate and control the ESS, PV system and facility loads while connected to and islanded from the grid. This project was conducted at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar
Uncle Sam’s battery bank: ARPA-E spurs commercialization of innovative storage technology
ARPA-E is celebrating a birthday. The federal research and development program – ARPA-E stands for Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy – is seven years old. Since 2009, ARPA-E has provided $1.3 billion in funding to more than 475 projects. Of those, 45 have gone on to raise $1.25 billion in publicly-reported private sector funding
Microsoft Partners with Primus Power to Drive Energy Innovation at Datacenters
At a White House event honoring clean energy innovators, Primus Power and Microsoft announced a program to advance energy storage at datacenters globally. The program will be carried out in collaboration with NRG Energy, the University of Texas at San Antonio, and battery technology providers, including Primus Power. This pilot program is part of a broader focus by Microsoft, as part of its datacenter strategy, to explore next genera...
Primus Power’s Microgrid Highlighted as a Leading Energy Solution
Ellen Williams, Director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency Energy, talks about leading energy technologies and highlights Primus Power and Raytheon for their role in advancing US & global energy solutions
Bill Gates Thinks Flow Batteries are a Breakthrough Energy Technology
In launching the Breakthrough Energy Coalition Bill Gates identified flow batteries as a promising technology. “Unlike lithium-ion batteries, a flow battery could last for decades and the rechargeable electrolyte liquid could last indefinitely. Many working prototypes use vanadium, a relatively rare element, as the active electrolyte. Future systems will need to use a more easily available electrolyte before they are commercially fe...
Israel Chemicals installs Primus Battery in Rancho Cucamonga
Israeli specialty minerals giant, ICL, named its Rancho Cucamonga plant in Southern California as ICL’s first manufacturing site to deploy Primus Power’s energy storage system. ICL is a premier supplier of bromine, an essential mineral used in high performance flow batteries
Primus Raises $25M in Series D Financing
Primus Power secured $25 million in financing for its Series D funding round. Additionally, Primus announced a strategic agreement with Samruk-Energy, the principal electricity provider in the Republic of Kazakhstan. As part of the multi-year agreement, Samruk-Energy plans to purchase Primus systems totaling 25 MW / 100 MWh – representing 1,250 batteries
Challenges of Energy Storage: Developing Financing and Market Structures
Batteries – the workhorse technology that injects life into gadgets we can’t live without – are taking on a bigger role as they replace petrol tanks in cars and make their way into homes and businesses to store electricity from rooftop solar panels or the grid
Primus executed Strategic Agreement with Samruk-Energy
At the Astana Economic Forum VIII Samruk-Energy, the leading electricity generator in Kazakhstan, and Primus Power formed a strategic partnership which calls for the delivery of pilot EnergyPods® in early 2016 followed by the organization of a joint venture for the production and supply of energy storage systems in the Republic of Kazakhstan
EPA Administrator awards Miramar’s energy savings and technical innovations
The US Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy visited the Marine Core Air Station in Miramar, California to award the base the 2015 EPA Federal Green Challenge Energy Award. Miramar was the federal facility with the highest percentage reduction in energy use among 400 sites. Ms. McCarthy’s speech was held in front of the Primus EnergyPod®
Primus Power CEO named a 2015 Smart Grid Pioneer
Smart Grid Today named the 50 Smart Grid Pioneers of 2015 today, which includes Primus Power’s CEO Tom Stepien. Tom is featured alongside other smart grid visionaries who are described by Smart Grid Today as “the best and brightest smart grid industry stakeholders succeeding at tackling many of the complexities in digitizing the power distribution world, some of which could barely be imagined just a decade ago.”
Primus Power and Raytheon Demonstrate Solar + Storage Microgrid System and Control
Primus and Raytheon have successfully demonstrated an advanced microgrid system capable of islanded operation using stored and high penetration renewable solar energy. The testing effort, conducted at NREL’s Energy Systems Integration Facility, proved the ability for an energy storage system-driven microgrid with conventional photovoltaic (PV) inverters to achieve 100% PV penetration while retaining the power quality needed to satisf...
Primus is a Platts Global Energy Award Finalist
Platt’s Global Energy Awards recognizes companies that have demonstrated excellence in leadership, innovation and performance in the energy industry. Primus is a finalist for the second year in a row
ARPA-E Encourages Crazy Ideas’ to Find Disruptive Energy Technology
The same GPS technology that guided smart bombs during Operation Desert Storm in 1991 is now in your smart phone and there are numerous additional examples of technology borne from US Defense Department innovators – Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) – that exploded (pardon the pun) into mainstream commercial applications. Well, if it worked for defense projects, why not use the same model to halt the erosion of US sci...
Sanmina and Primus Power announce manufacturing agreement to produce grid-scale energy storage systems
Sanmina Corporation (Nasdaq: SANM) and Primus Power today announced a manufacturing agreement focused on the growing energy storage market. As part of the agreement, Sanmina will assemble and test EnergyPods at its Silicon Valley manufacturing facilities
The Year Energy Storage Hit Its Stride
The energy storage sector is finally poised to begin making its mark, driven by greater policy support and technological advances that have begun making new solutions economic
CalCharge: the center of gravity for energy storage technology
Primus Power is a founding corporate member of CalCharge, a pioneering initiative designed to accelerate the development of the energy storage sector in California
California’s Energy Storage Bet
California is offering businesses large incentives for coming up with successful, large-scale electricity storage systems, betting that creating demand will lead to workable and economic new technologies
Primus Power secures $20M in first close of series C funding
Primus Power’s C round includes substantial investment by South Africa’s Anglo American Platinum. Funds support first product shipments in 2014
California Adopts Historic Energy Storage Targets
The California Public Utilities Commission set a target for California investor owned utilities to procure 1,325 MW of cost effective energy storage by 2020. The target, which is the largest of its kind worldwide, is set to increase California’s installed energy storage capacity six fold from its current 35 MW
Primus is a Platts Global Energy Award Finalist
Platt’s Global Energy Awards honors and recognizes those who have transcended the status quo in the name of excellence in leadership, innovation and performance in the energy industry. This year Primus is a finalist in the Rising Star Company category
Energy Storage: the Next Big Thing
Platt’s Global Energy Awards honors and recognizes those who have transcended the status quo in the name of excellence in leadership, innovation and performance in the energy industry. This year Primus is a finalist in the Rising Star Company category