Aquion Energy’s Sustainable “Saltwater” AHI Batteries

Aquion Energy’s Sustainable “Saltwater” AHI Batteries

Chris Rigatti, Product Manager

Aquion Energy’s highly innovative “saltwater” batteries are built entirely of abundant, non-toxic materials and contain no heavy metals. In April this year, they became the first and only batteries ever awarded Cradle-to-Cradle Certification. The Aqueous Hybrid Ion (AHI) “saltwater” technology was developed by a professor at Carnegie Mellon and the batteries are manufactured in western Pennsylvania, for use in residential solar, off-grid and microgrid applications, energy management and grid services.

AHI batteries are made with a saltwater electrolyte, carbon composite anode, manganese oxide cathode and synthetic cotton separator. They contain no heavy metals and are non-toxic, non-flammable and non-explosive.

MIT Technology Review named Aquion Energy to its list of “50 Smartest Companies in 2015”. In 2014, Popular Science magazine named the company’s AHI batteries to its 2014 list of “Best of What’s New, Innovations that Will Shape the Future.” The company, headquartered in Pittsburgh, has garnered funding from a variety of high-profile sources, including Bill Gates.

We are delighted to have Aquion Energy’s Chris Rigatti, Product Manager, speak at our July 28 meeting at TEK Park.  His talk will cover AHI core technology (with technology comparisons), AHI products (including availability and pricing) and AHI applications with case studies, including residential solar. He’ll tell us more about Aquion Energy the company and its manufacturing operations in Westmoreland PA. Chris will also share some perspective on energy storage markets.

We hope you can join us on Tuesday, July 28 at 7:00 at TEKPark (9999 Hamilton Boulevard, Breinigsville, PA 18031, between Kutztown and Allentown). Meetings are free and open to the public. After the meeting, please plan to stick around and chat with friends old and new. We’re sure this topic will spark lots of good conversation! Light snacks will be served. Hope to see you there!

If you want to do some reading in advance, you may be interested in a piece comparing AHI and lead acid batteries, available here, and a paper about the science behind AHI technology, available here.  For additional info, check out the company’s website and Facebook page.

Chris Rigatti is Product Manager for Aquion Energy. He holds a BS in Computer Engineering from Penn State and an MBA from Carnegie Mellon. Chris began his career at Lutron Electronics in the Lehigh Valley, where he spent 6 years as an electrical and software engineer working on energy efficient lighting systems for commercial buildings.

For questions, contact Vera Cole, <a>[masked]</a> or [masked].

Free DVD with MAREA membership  While supplies last, all new and renewing MAREA members will receive a free copy of “Saving Sunshine, Keeping the Lights on with Batteries and Solar Power,” the 30-minute DVD produced by MAREA this year with funding from the Berks Community Foundation and distributed by Bullfrog Films. It’s terrific film, offering an interesting and easily understood explanation of the electricity grid and distribution generation, especially the role of batteries with solar. MAREA is a 501(c)3 non-profit. Donations and memberships are how we keep the lights on. You can join at the meeting or anytime online. Thanks for your help.