Liquid flow energy storage battery picture

Can iron-based aqueous flow batteries be used for grid energy storage?

A new iron-based aqueous flow battery shows promise for grid energy storage applications. A commonplace chemical used in water treatment facilities has been repurposed for large-scale energy storage in a new battery design by researchers at the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

How does a flow battery store energy?

The larger the electrolyte supply tank, the more energy the flow battery can store. The aqueous iron (Fe) redox flow battery here captures energy in the form of electrons (e-) from renewable energy sources and stores it by changing the charge of iron in the flowing liquid electrolyte.

Can flow batteries be used for large-scale electricity storage?

Associate Professor Fikile Brushett (left) and Kara Rodby PhD ’22 have demonstrated a modeling framework that can help speed the development of flow batteries for large-scale, long-duration electricity storage on the future grid. Brushett photo: Lillie Paquette. Rodby photo: Mira Whiting Photography

Are flow batteries a viable alternative to lithium-ion storage systems?

High-tech membranes, pumps and seals, variable frequency drives, and advanced software and control systems have brought greater eficiencies at lower expense, making flow batteries a feasible alternative to lithium-ion storage systems. Each flow battery includes four fuel stacks in which the energy generation from the ion exchange takes place.

How do flow batteries differ from solid-state batteries?

Flow batteries differ from solid-state batteries in that they have two external supply tanks of liquid constantly circulating through them to supply the electrolyte, which is like the “blood supply” for the system. The larger the electrolyte supply tank, the more energy the flow battery can store.

What can flow batteries do?

Although zinc-iron flow batteries have been through some levels of field testing, the flow batteries at INL represent the first time in the U.S. that they are being incorporated and tested in a fully integrated and functional microgrid system, including real-world grid interaction use cases.