Concurrent Technologies focuses on developing batteries for renewable energy, electric cars

If the United States is going to reach its goal of putting 1 million electric cars on the road or using renewables to power 25 percent of the grid, the Department of Energy says it'll need a better battery.

The road to building it runs through Western Pennsylvania, where Johnstown-based Concurrent Technologies Corp. is leading development of battery components and additives that could increase the capacity of energy storage and lower its costs.

A nonprofit that employs 850 researchers, scientists and engineers, CTC last month announced an affiliation with the Energy Department's Joint Center for Energy Storage Research. Its work with the center will center on batteries used to store energy generated by solar and wind facilities, and those used in electric vehicles, said Dan Markiewicz, senior principal engineer and technology platform leader for energy storage at CTC.

“People are beginning to realize that there are issues” with incorporating renewables such as wind and solar into the grid, said Vicki A. Barbur, CTC's senior vice president and chief technical officer.

Barbur, a U.K. native with a doctorate in physics, spoke with the Tribune-Review about how joining forces with the government center will help CTC's research into battery improvements and using energy storage to “level load” power plants.

Trib: What does it mean to “level load” the grid?

Barbur: During the peaks when you have the sun out or the wind, (renewables) will be creating energy. But then when that goes away, there will be none if you haven't stored what you haven't used. Therefore, that storage can fill the gap when there is no sun and is no wind.

What role does CTC play in raising awareness about the need for energy storage?

Barbur: I don't think the average person has really understood that energy storage is something that we need. We need to bring that to the fore. The kind of energy storage that we're working on is something we hope will increase the capability but lower the cost, and therefore, it can be more ubiquitous.

What does the affiliation bring to CTC?

Barbur: It is a conglomerate of ideal partners and affiliates who are focused on energy storage, more from the point of view of transforming both transportation, which we also know is a heavy user of energy, and the electricity grid. What the joint center brings to us is visibility with all the research that's actually going on that is focused on these two dimensions. We can partner with other groups ... so we can bring a diverse group of minds together, so we have the best minds, the best science, and we will deliver the best results, which will accelerate the deployment of energy storage on a much broader scale.

What could it bring to Western Pennsylvania?

Barbur: At the end of the day, CTC is all about bringing and maintaining a job space here. In addition to the work that we have at CTC, we can participate in other project opportunities which are broader. That definitely allows us to keep our human capital focused in this area on energy research.

What are the goals for the first year of the affiliation?

Barbur: I'd like to see us being part of the ongoing projects, where we're tapped in to for what we bring to the table and what we can contribute to that overall scene. We are actively encouraged and invited to participate in their projects, which obviously involves co-teaming, but we would be bringing a significant part and contribution to that project which would allow energy storage to proceed.

What other work is CTC doing?

Barbur: CTC is more than just energy. We focus on other emerging technologies, like additive manufacturing (3D printing) for metals, immersive simulation and cloud computing and big data.

David Conti is a staff writer at Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-388-5802 or dconti@tribweb.com.