SIRIM RESPOND ON SOLAR BATTERY

BASE on public query and curiosity in Lead Acid Battery and Lithium Polymer Battery, Sabahkini.net did posses few question regarding that matter to SIRIM Berhad. Below are the questions and answer regarding both matters.

SABAHKINI.NET: Has SIRIM conducted any study on the effects and consequences of lead poisoning?

SIRIM: No, SIRIM has not conducted any study on this subject.

SABAHKINI.NET: Has SIRIM approved any Lead Acid Battery for solar power applications?

SIRIM: No, SIRIM has not done any testing or approved any Lead Acid Battery for solar power applications.

SABAHKINI.NET: Was there any test conducted to verify the efficiency, life cycle and the effect of DOD (Depth of Discharge) of Lead-Acid battery?

SIRIM: SIRIM’s Advanced Materials Research Centre in Kulim has done several test on lead acid battery based on customer request however the tests are voluntary and not for certification purpose. The batteries were SLI type (battery for starting automotive), and gel type for electric motorcycles application and for electric vehicles (car and buggy) application.

SABAHKINI.NET: Is there a guideline or policy on the disposal of used Lead-Acid battery? If yes, how are those guidelines and policy been enforced especially on traceability of used lead-acid batteries?

SIRIM: Please refer this question to the Department of Environment.

SABAHKINI.NET: The Lithium-Polymer battery is known to be 3 times more efficient than Lead-Acid battery, and the output would be 3 times more than Lead-Acid battery of similar capacity. Hence can I say the overall cost per available output Watt-hour of Lithium-Polymer battery based solar powered system would be lower.

SIRIM: As the life cycle for lithium ion battery is very much longer than lead acid battery (life cycle for lead acid battery is about 300 cycles and lithium polymer battery is about 2,000 cycles), the overall cost per available output Watt-hour for lithium polymer battery is lower.

SABAHKINI.NET: We were informed that Sirim Berhad had installed 3 units of solar powered systems incorporating the Lithium-Polymer battery at the fraction of Lead-Acid battery based solar powered system cost, is this true? Please comment.

SIRIM: SIRIM, through its Renewable Energy Research Centre has installed one unit, 2KwH of Lithium Polymer Battery pack at Kampung Gontoi, Kota Marudu, Sabah. The green solar powered system project was installed at the village’s Dewan Kebudayaan. The electricity generated are used to power a ceiling fan, a PA system and two units of ceiling lights.

Yes, it is true that lead acid battery pack is three times more expensive than lithium polymer battery. However, the lithium polymer battery packs are proven to be more efficient than lead acid battery as per the reasons below:

1. No maintenance required

2. Two times longer life-span than lead acid battery

3. Smaller footprint and lighter

4. Fast deployment of system to remote areas

SABAHKINI.NET: Most of the government contracts for solar powered system are meant for remote and interior areas. Hence logistics is a major challenge for such system to be installed in those areas. Is it true that the Lithium-Polymer based solar powered system is only 1/5 of the prorated logistics cost of Lead-acid based system?

SIRIM: It is difficult to say that the prorated logistic cost of Lithium-Polymer based solar powered system is only 1/5 of Lead-acid based system. What is true is for the similar rated energy density, the size and weight for Lithium-Polymer battery is about 1/3 and 1/ 2 of the lead acid battery, respectively.