137 Year Old Battery Tech May Be The Future of Energy Storage

Undecided with Matt Ferrell2 minutes read

Zinc-bromine batteries offer a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to lithium-ion batteries for energy storage. Gelion's Endure battery, with its unique design and manufacturing approach, provides a durable and long-lasting solution for grid energy storage with lower operational costs.

Insights

  • Zinc-bromine batteries, such as Gelion's Endure, offer a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to lithium-ion batteries, with lower operational costs and easier recycling processes, making them suitable for large-scale grid energy storage.
  • Gelion's innovative manufacturing approach for zinc-bromine batteries significantly reduces costs compared to building new lithium-ion battery facilities, showcasing the potential for cost savings and scalability in energy storage solutions.

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Recent questions

  • What are the advantages of zinc-bromine batteries?

    Zinc-bromine batteries offer advantages in depth of discharge and safety over lithium-ion batteries. They are cost-effective compared to other chemistries like vanadium and have comparable round-trip efficiency to lithium-ion batteries. These batteries are gaining traction for energy storage due to their long lifespan, durability, and ease of recycling.

  • How do Gelion and Redflow contribute to battery production?

    Gelion and Redflow are Australian companies producing zinc-bromine batteries. Gelion's Endure battery utilizes a unique plate design with gel-based electrolytes, driving down costs and increasing efficiency. Redflow also plays a role in advancing the production of zinc-bromine batteries, contributing to the growth of this energy storage technology.

  • What is the lifespan of zinc-bromine batteries compared to lithium batteries?

    Zinc-bromine batteries have a longer lifespan than lithium batteries, lasting about 4,500 to 5,000 cycles compared to lithium's 1,500 to 2,400 cycles. This increased durability makes zinc-bromine batteries a reliable option for long-term energy storage solutions.

  • How do zinc-bromine batteries address environmental concerns?

    Zinc-bromine batteries offer a more environmentally friendly option compared to lithium-based batteries. The casing of Gelion's Endure battery is recyclable in a similar manner to lead-acid batteries but with more eco-friendly components. This focus on sustainability makes zinc-bromine batteries a promising choice for large-scale grid energy storage.

  • What are the cost advantages of zinc-bromine batteries over lithium batteries?

    Zinc-bromine batteries are cost-effective compared to lithium batteries, with Gelion predicting that their battery operation costs would be 25% less than lithium batteries. The cost of systems integration for zinc-bromine batteries is considerably cheaper than lithium and vanadium, making them a competitive option for grid energy storage solutions.

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Summary

00:00

Zinc-bromine batteries: cost-effective energy storage solution

  • Flow batteries have various chemistry variations, with zinc-bromine batteries being a notable contender.
  • Zinc-bromine batteries have existed for 137 years and are gaining traction for energy storage.
  • Lithium-ion batteries, while popular, have environmental concerns and rising costs.
  • Rising lithium prices are challenging the production of energy-dense batteries.
  • Gelion and Redflow are Australian companies producing zinc-bromine batteries.
  • Zinc-bromine batteries are redox-flow batteries with liquid electrolytes in tanks.
  • Gelion's Endure battery uses a unique plate design with gel-based electrolytes.
  • Flow batteries like zinc-bromine have advantages in depth of discharge and safety over lithium-ion batteries.
  • Zinc-bromine batteries are cost-effective compared to vanadium and other chemistries.
  • Zinc-bromine batteries have comparable round-trip efficiency to lithium-ion batteries and can be cost-effective for grid energy storage.

10:57

Gelion's Zinc-Bromine Batteries: Cost-Effective, Durable, Sustainable

  • Gelion predicted in 2021 that their battery operation costs would be 25% less than lithium batteries due to not needing air conditioning or fire-suppression systems, and not using tanks. The cost of systems integration for zinc-bromine batteries is between $10 to $18/kWh, considerably cheaper than lithium and vanadium.
  • Gelion's manufacturing approach drives down costs further, with the Endure battery's manufacturing process sharing similarities with lead-acid batteries, reducing the need for a new production line. Retrofitting a lead-acid battery facility for Gelion batteries costs about $16 million, while building a new li-ion battery facility from scratch costs around $130 million.
  • Zinc-bromine batteries have a longer lifespan than lithium batteries, lasting about 4,500 to 5,000 cycles compared to lithium's 1,500 to 2,400 cycles. They are also more durable, with Gelion's Endure battery being "abuse-tolerant" and able to withstand high temperatures.
  • Zinc-bromine batteries are easier to recycle than lithium-based batteries, with the Endure's casing being recyclable in the same way as lead-acid batteries but with more environmentally friendly components. They are tailored for large-scale grids, long-term storage, rural areas, and extreme temperatures, not for mobile or portable uses like solid-state batteries.
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