Lavle launches Proteus energy storage system

Proteus ESS

Burlington, Wash., headquartered Lavle USA has launched its flagship Proteus lithium-ion battery energy storage system (Proteus ESS). Designed to overcome the limitations of conventional lithium-ion storage technologies, Lavle’s Proteus aims to set new industry standards for safety, quality, and cost-effective energy storage solutions in the marine and other industries.

Proteus utilizes Lavle’s battery management system (BMS), which is designed to maximize reliability, lifetime, and uptime.

To cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, there has been a growing shift to electrification of vessels, particularly in the ferry sector. However, the safety and performance constraints of current lithium-ion ESS have slowed wider adoption of electrification solutions.

Lavle says that Proteus surmounts these barriers and makes possible new applications of electric propulsion and energy storage solutions.

Designed and developed by Lavle Chief Technology Officer Dr. Ben Gully, Proteus is claimed to be “the safest and most reliable ESS on the market.”

Its features include:

• A thermal management system said to entirely mitigate the risk of thermal runaway, with high performance liquid cooling, optimized battery chemistry, and multi-layer propagation barriers.

• A dual redundant design that ensures no single component failure anywhere in the system can take down more than a single battery string.

• Industry-first gas and leak detection technologies in every module.

• High-performance active and passive balancing systems to maximize system lifetime and reliability.

• Cloud-based high security remote monitoring.

• Mechanical design featuring rear blind mate connections and screwless integrated module locking mechanisms.

“Lavle’s Proteus is the superior solution for delivering the performance and assurance required to further advance electrification in marine transportation and other new markets,” said Dr. Jason Nye, CEO, Lavle. “This is just our first step in bringing innovative, next generation technologies to market that will have a meaningful impact for carbon reduction.”

Proteus is currently undergoing certification by DNV-GL.

OTHER SYSTEMS IN PROTOTYPE TESTING

In addition to bringing Proteus to market, Lavle is also making significant breakthroughs in the development of large format lithium metal battery (LMB) and solid-electrolyte battery (SEB) ESS. Currently in prototype testing, Lavle’s LMB and SEB ESS are enabled by battery cells and separator technology from Japanese battery manufacturer 3DOM.

Lavle’s LMB and SEB technologies have already achieved energy density of 420 Wh/kg in full size large format cells—more than double that of traditional lithium-ion batteries. Lavle says the lower operating temperatures of its LMB and SEB at 25° Centigrade (77 ° F) ambient temperature deliver the safety characteristics necessary for broad commercial application.

“We are thrilled to see that dramatic reduction in carbon emissions is within our grasp because of Lavle energy storage advancements incorporating 3DOM technology. This is indeed a sea change in energy storage technology and for those committed to the health of our environment,” Nye added.