Eni, Ansaldo Energia to develop storage alternative to lithium-ion batteries

Italian oil and gas company Eni SpA (BIT:ENI) and compatriot power engineering firm Ansaldo Energia SpA today said they have agreed to develop electricity storage projects based on technologies alternative to electrochemical batteries.

“The technological solution underpinning the agreement - an alternative to lithium-ion batteries - is rooted in a strong European supply chain and guarantees a safe, long-lasting energy storage service, overcoming obstacles related to disposal and avoiding problems related to critical supply issues,” said Ansaldo Green Tech chief executive Daniela Gentile.

Without providing further details of the contemplated technologies, the announcement said that they are being studied and have already undergone Eni's technology validation process. The technologies will be installed in synergy at industrial sites of Eni in Italy, utilising the potential of existing power generation and consumption systems, the companies said.

Francesco Giunti, head of Enipower, said the agreement aligns with the growth plans for Enipower as a provider of grid services, which are becoming more needed with the growth of renewables and the electrification of end-users.

“Renewable energy sources, such as wind and photovoltaic, are indispensable solutions for the success of the energy transition and Eni is devoting a great deal of effort and resources to grow rapidly in those areas and help overcome their structural and economic limitations due to their intermittency of production,” said Giuseppe Ricci, Eni's Energy Evolution chief operating officer.

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