Introducing Aquabattery’s Blue Battery
Dutch startup Aquabattery has developed an innovative flow battery capable of storing solar and wind energy for several weeks by utilizing table salt and water. The company specializes in flow battery technology, which relies on the chemical reaction that takes place when two specific liquids are made to flow together, separated by a slim membrane. This green energy storage solution, known as the Blue Battery, offers a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to conventional lithium-ion batteries. By harnessing the power of readily available and environmentally friendly materials, Aquabattery aims to revolutionise the renewable energy storage industry, thereby contributing to a cleaner, greener future.
Advantages of Flow Batteries
Flow batteries have several advantages over traditional Li-ion battery systems for stationary energy storage, as they can use non-toxic, non-flammable, and abundant materials, reducing costs in the supply chain and offering easier scalability. Additionally, flow batteries possess a distinct advantage of having separate energy storage and power generation components, allowing for increased design flexibility and independent scaling of these aspects. This unique characteristic enables a more efficient optimization for large-scale and long-duration energy storage applications, enhancing grid stability and reliable access to renewable energy sources.
Aquabattery’s Signature Technology
Aquabattery’s signature technology is a “flow battery based on the reversible dissociation of water into its acidic and basic components.” This battery stores electricity in the form of chemical energy in acid, base, and brine solutions, all contained in separate tanks. This innovative design allows for longer life cycles and decreased degradation compared to traditional batteries, making it a promising solution for large-scale energy storage. Additionally, the environmentally friendly nature of these batteries, due to their reliance on water-based chemistry, offers a sustainable option in the pursuit of cleaner energy solutions.
Electricity Generation Process
Pumps move these liquids through a power stack equipped with electrodes separated by membranes, enabling ion exchange between electrolytes to produce electricity. This innovative process ensures highly efficient conversion of chemical energy into electrical power, optimizing the fuel cell’s overall performance. Furthermore, the utilization of membranes and ion exchange systems offers a sustainable, environmentally-friendly approach to electricity generation.
Statkraft’s Pursuit of Long-Duration Energy Storage
Norwegian energy company Statkraft has been pursuing long-duration energy storage solutions suitable for the European energy market, considering flow batteries and other new long-duration technologies that can provide storage for eight hours or more. By exploring these innovative technologies, Statkraft aims to enhance the efficiency and reliability of the European energy grid, ensuring a consistent power supply for various industries and households.
Challenges Faced by Li-ion Batteries
Long-duration energy storage systems have the potential to significantly improve grid flexibility and accommodate the increasing integration of renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, which are known for their intermittent nature. While Li-ion batteries are effective in some situations, they are not appropriate for others. For instance, extremely high or low temperatures can limit the functionality and longevity of Li-ion batteries, making them unsuitable for certain industrial applications or extreme environments. Additionally, their sensitivity to overcharging and potential risk of thermal runaway — a chain reaction that can result in overheating and fire — can pose safety concerns in specific settings.
The European Market’s Demand for Long-duration Energy Storage
The European market primarily requires long-term flexibility over days and weeks,” says Matthias Holzenkamp, head of commercial asset management at Statkraft’s German division, emphasizing the demand for long-duration energy storage in Europe, where weather patterns are less predictable. This highlights the need for advanced energy storage solutions that can provide consistent power supply during fluctuating renewable energy generation. As a result, innovative storage technologies, such as large-scale batteries and innovative pumped hydro storage, are gaining increased attention from European policymakers and energy companies alike.
First Reported on: cleantechnica.com
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Aquabattery’s Blue Battery?
Aquabattery’s Blue Battery is an innovative flow battery that can store solar and wind energy for several weeks using table salt and water. It serves as a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to conventional lithium-ion batteries and aims to revolutionize the renewable energy storage industry.
What advantages do flow batteries have over traditional Li-ion batteries?
Flow batteries have several advantages, such as using non-toxic, non-flammable, and abundant materials that reduce supply chain costs and enable easier scalability. Additionally, flow batteries have separate energy storage and power generation components, allowing for increased design flexibility and independent scaling, making them more efficient for large-scale, long-duration energy storage applications.
How does Aquabattery’s signature technology work?
Aquabattery’s technology is a flow battery based on the reversible dissociation of water into its acidic and basic components. The battery stores electricity as chemical energy in acid, base, and brine solutions contained in separate tanks. This design allows for longer life cycles and decreased degradation compared to traditional batteries and offers a sustainable, environmentally-friendly energy storage solution.
How is electricity generated in Aquabattery’s flow batteries?
In Aquabattery’s flow batteries, pumps move liquids through a power stack equipped with electrodes separated by membranes. This enables ion exchange between electrolytes, producing electricity. This process ensures efficient conversion of chemical energy into electrical power while providing a sustainable and environmentally-friendly approach to electricity generation.
Why is Statkraft interested in long-duration energy storage?
Statkraft is interested in long-duration energy storage solutions to enhance the efficiency and reliability of the European energy grid and ensure a consistent power supply for various industries and households. The company is exploring innovative technologies such as flow batteries, which can provide storage for eight hours or more.
What challenges do Li-ion batteries face?
Li-ion batteries face challenges such as limited functionality and longevity in extremely high or low temperatures, making them unsuitable for certain industrial applications or extreme environments. They are also sensitive to overcharging, and their potential risk of thermal runaway can result in overheating and fire, posing safety concerns in specific settings.
Why is there a demand for long-duration energy storage in the European market?
There is a demand for long-duration energy storage in Europe because this market requires long-term flexibility over days and weeks due to less predictable weather patterns. Advanced energy storage solutions are needed to provide consistent power supply during fluctuations in renewable energy generation, resulting in increased attention from European policymakers and energy companies towards innovative storage technologies such as large-scale batteries and pumped hydro storage.
