'Super battery' project underway at Nottingham

The new energy storage device, known as a supercapattery, is made from carbon nanotubes chemically engineered with advanced battery materials. It is said to combine the fast charge and discharge qualities of a supercapacitor, with the energy storage benefits of a battery, but at a lower cost. The researchers believes the technology could be used to power portable electronics such as notebook computers and even offer a large scale energy storage solution for power companies. The initiative is the largest of three projects being sponsored by E.ON amounting to a total of £1million. Professor George Chen, who is leading on the project for the university, said: "Typically, an extra 5% of the power of the national grid is standing by in reserve in case of a surge, for example when everyone puts their kettle on after a football match has finished. It is very expensive to do this, and supercapatteries offer a more cost effective and environmentally friendly alternative." The university's director of business engagement, Mike Carr added: "These collaborations between the university and E.ON are very exciting. We have a great depth of knowledge in the energy sector and this research will undoubtedly result in new energy technologies and management systems being developed to respond to the evolving needs of the energy sector."