#USA #Scottsdale #R&D 100 #Energy Recovery #APh ePower

APh ePower: Innovating Energy Recovery in Elevators

In a remarkable achievement, APh ePower, a leading player in commercialized aluminum battery technology, has been awarded the prestigious 2025 R&D 100 Award. This accolade recognizes the company’s innovative effort in developing an Energy Recovery Power System (ERPS) for elevators, transforming batteries into powerful tools for energy efficiency and sustainable practices.

The Technology Behind the Award

Elevators are ubiquitous in modern buildings, often overlooked as mere transportation tools. However, APh ePower has turned this common machine into a high-performance energy recovery engine. The ERPS captures kinetic energy during two predictable elevator movements: ascending with light loads and descending with heavy loads. Utilizing high-efficiency DC-DC converters, the system achieves an impressive conversion efficiency of over 90%. This excess energy is then stored in a secure aluminum battery that allows for quick charging and discharging, ensuring immediate availability.

The benefits of this innovative technology are multifaceted. It guarantees elevator operations during power outages, significantly enhancing user safety while also providing buildings with an unmatched level of resilience when compared to traditional systems.

A Milestone in Carbon Credits

In April 2025, APh ePower marked another milestone as the Gold Standard approved its first globally applicable methodology for enabling regenerative energy systems in elevators to generate carbon credits. This methodology outlines how the energy savings from these systems are quantified and verified, allowing them to transform energy savings into tradeable emission reductions. This opens the door for elevator projects to participate in the voluntary carbon market, promising significant financial and environmental benefits.

The potential impact of APh ePower's ERPS system is vast. With over 15 million elevators in operation globally, the technology could reduce energy consumption by more than 40%, saving approximately 164 terawatt-hours of energy per year. This astounding figure exceeds the total energy consumption of numerous large AI data centers, positioning APh ePower at the forefront of industrial decarbonization.

Margaret Kim, CEO of Gold Standard, praised APh ePower's innovative methodology, stating, "We are proud to support APh ePower's innovative approach to harnessing regenerative energy from elevator operations. Such practical applications of regenerative energy not only lower overall energy consumption but also lead to real and verifiable carbon emission reductions. This is exactly the type of scalable and high-integrity solution we advocate at Gold Standard."

Future Aspirations

APh ePower's aspirations extend beyond elevators. The company is actively expanding its dynamic aluminum-based storage technology into various sectors, including backup systems for AI data centers, hybrid mobility platforms, automated guided vehicles (AGVs), and robotics. As global electrification accelerates, aluminum batteries are emerging as a crucial avenue for applications requiring rapid charging and enhanced safety.

The ambition of APh ePower is to redefine how everyday devices capture, store, and monetize energy, turning routine operational dynamics into measurable, financeable gains. Their innovative approach lays the groundwork for a new era of sustainable energy management in urban environments, bridging the gap between efficiency and environmental stewardship.

For more information, visit APh ePower's official website.