FAQ
How many deployments does CellCube have in absolute terms?
We have more than 110 CellCube deployments globally to date.
ARE THEY PILOTS OR ARE THEY COMMERCIALLY ACTIVE?
We started selling our CELLCUBE branded ESS systems in 2008 and while the first years (until around 2010/11) the main customer focus was on technology proof and application specific demo/pilot projects we have around 30% of the installed base in early adopter but commercial use. Since then we were successful in commercial driven BtM projects, primarily in DER applications (mainly EU, Solar plus storage as demand charge and high energy price reduction). We have further systems deployed from Siberia to Vietnam to Australia and South Africa in microgrids (either grid connected or DG+solar+storage hybrids).
On the other hand, our larger unit installments (200kW to 500kW, 3-8h duration) serve in grid pilot projects at major European utilities (applications: FR/PCR, voltage/grid-quality support, capacity mkt, and community size microgrids). We calculate a combined 3M+ operational hour experience in the installed base.
Can you consider CellCube a one stop shop, being the first miner of vanadium that also packages that material into a storage product?
Correct, CellCube Energy Storage System Inc. is a vertically integrated energy storage system provider. We are in the process of setting up the vanadium mine to produce all-vanadium electrolyte for the use in CELLCUBE flow batteries, exclusively. This way we can eliminate margin stacking along the supply chain and deliver best value for our customer base. In addition we deliver a horizontal integrated approach to value with BoS.
Do you think the transfer from Lithium to Vanadium is approaching faster than we think?
This is an excellent question. As we are all aware, leading regional energy storage markets are changing from a need for power centric energy storage in large grid applications (FR, T&D grid quality support, etc.) to a much larger energy centric storage market everything from peaking power conversion to storage, multi-hour DER to off-grid applications. We appreciate recent articles about the peaker plant future in California. Within this context the resource adequacy paradigm strengthens our approach to deliver the flow battery technology from 4-8 or even 10-100 hours as long as the commercial character can be constructed.
CellCube rivals other company's approach towards stationary energy storage market share. In energy centric market segments (like much larger than the size for power centric applications in terms of MWh’s installed) CELLCUBE flow batteries show substantial advantages for long duration storage following down the capacity market segment merit order in price/kWh and demand for more than 4 hour durations, thus making a viable case for flow deployments. The myth about high cost flow batteries should be seriously tested when talking at least about our CELLCUBE offering and I would add that the tipping point for Lithium versus flow might be earlier than expected.
