What is a 'liquid battery'?

Called the “liquid battery,” this innovative solution offers a promising answer to the intermittent nature of renewable sources like solar and wind power. It paves the way for more sustainable and reliable energy grids, which are currently overwhelmingly reliant on lithium-ion technologies.

What is a battery storage power station?

A battery storage power station is a device designed to output power at its full rated capacity for several hours. It can be used for short-term peak power and ancillary services, such as providing operating reserve and frequency control to minimize the chance of power outages.

Could LOHCs serve as a 'liquid battery'?

The team from Stanford believes that LOHCs can one day serve as 'liquid batteries'—storing energy and efficiently releasing it as usable fuel or electricity when needed.

Could a liquid organic hydrogen carrier battery improve renewable power production?

A liquid organic hydrogen carrier (LOHC) battery could potentially improve renewable power production by offering storage and smoothing out the ebb and flow of energy without certain negative side effects. The team's work was described in a study published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.

Is liquid hydrogen a key to ending power grid instability?

A team of Stanford chemists believe that liquid organic hydrogen carriers can serve as batteries for long-term renewable energy storage. This could help smooth the electrical grid and give renewable energy a prominent place without the risk of uneven production. Is this the key to ending power grid instability?

How does the liquid battery use rubbing alcohol?

The liquid battery converts excess energy into relatively simple ingredients—such as acetone and isopropanol, more commonly known as rubbing alcohol—that can exist for extended periods of time as high-density liquid forms of hydrogen. “When you have excess energy, and there’s no demand for it on the grid, you store it as isopropanol,” Waymouth said.