TACOMA, WA – Puyallup Tribal Enterprises (PTE) has become the primary investor in Skip Tech, a U.S.-based innovator that aims to reduce fossil fuel dependence and electricity costs with infinitely rechargeable clean energy storage that doesn’t require rare earth mining.
The collaboration is working on developing a new kind of battery that can store renewable energy more efficiently. The liquid battery promises to be revolutionary in bridging the gap between renewable power generation and storage. The goal is to manufacture prototype batteries in 2024, marking a crucial step toward achieving their shared vision. The renewable energy storage market is expected to grow at a rate of 30 percent annually, with an estimated yearly revenue of $750 million.
Renewable energy comes with a challenge – it is not available at all times. It is important to have a way to store the energy generated by wind turbines and solar panels, or it is lost. However, the current storage options have issues – they can be risky, harm the environment or simply be too expensive.
Skip Tech has developed a new type of battery that uses bromine and hydrogen, instead of the conventional lithium. This innovative design has no moving parts and is fully recyclable. By using bromine, which is cost-effective and relatively safe, and allowing hydrogen to evaporate in case of leakage, the battery demonstrates an environmentally conscious approach.
PTE is building a manufacturing facility, which will produce batteries specifically designed to fit into standard shipping containers. Each battery has the ability to power approximately 35 homes for 10 hours. The manufacturing process will later be expanded to cater to industrial clients and, eventually, entire power grids. Notably, tribal communities and rural areas lacking access to extensive power grids may find early benefits from this groundbreaking initiative.
The Puyallup Tribe has a long history as steward of its lands and waters. The tribe is committed to environmentally friendly practices and was one of the first tribal governments to declare a climate emergency, which it did Dec. 10, 2019.
“The investment in Skip Technology aligns seamlessly with the tribe’s commitment to sustainable business ventures that not only generate revenue and have the potential to make a positive global impact, but also create employment opportunities, paving the way for a brighter future for generations to come,” said Matt Wadhwani, PTE’s CEO.
“The manufacturing agreement between PTE and Skip Technology is the first under PTE’s manufacturing group, and we couldn’t be more excited to be partnering with such an innovative company with products that are so critical in fulfilling environmentally friendly power solutions throughout the world,” said Brad Root, CEO of Manufacturing for PTE.
“We will always fight to preserve and protect our environment, and to support our membership,” said Puyallup Tribal Council, the tribe’s governing body. “PTE’s investment is great for our membership, the region and we think the entire world.”
“Skip Technology is delighted to be partnering with Puyallup Tribal Enterprises on so many fronts; they are an ideal partner for us,” said Brennan Gantner, CEO of Skip Technology. “We share their vision to protect and preserve the environment, provide high-quality local jobs and have a successful domestic manufacturing business. It is an honor having them as a lead financial investor and we are looking forward to utilizing their manufacturing capacity.”
