KUALA LUMPUR: ETI Tech Corp Bhd has raised the ante in the green revolution with its lithium-based battery, replacing the conventional lead acid-based battery, for use in the solar home system.

The company said on Tuesday, Feb 2 it had collaborated with Compugates Holdings Bhd's 51% owned Compugates Sabah Sdn Bhd to instal the mini solar home system for 41 homes in Kampung Sumambu, Tenom, Sabah.

ETI Tech’s chief technology officer YK Khor said the lithium-based battery -- which replaced the harmful lead acid-based battery -- is a light metal found in edible vegetable and used as a component in anti-depression drugs.

"Lithium is also bio-degradable. We have replaced the environmentally unfriendly and harmful lead acid battery which is used in the conventional solar system with ETI Tech’s Green Battery which converts it into a truly clean and green system,” he said.

Based on testing record, approximately 60% to 70% energy can be lost while charging a lead acid battery system. As such, the energy absorbed by solar panels which is then stored inside the lead acid battery can only produce 25% of “usable” power.

“With ETI Tech’s Lithium-based battery, up to 85% power can be utilised and we are improving the level to 90%,” said Khor.

He said this was due to the high internal resistance of lead acid battery versus the absorption power of lithium-based battery system. He explained that for lead acid battery system, the power had to be pushed into it whereas a lithium-based battery system simply absorbs the power.

ETI Tech, which focused on providing renewable energy storage solutions, is offering solar home system to the government at RM36/watt for solar system below 10KWHr and RM50/watt for solar system above 10KWHr.

The cost included installation cost and has a warranty period of five years for the ETI Tech green battery and 15 years for the solar panel.

The company said a battery was crucial for a remote solar system. Since solar power of photovoltaic is not consistent, ETI Tech’s green battery enables evenness in power distribution whenever the use of energy is needed.