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.

What is an iron-based flow battery?

Iron-based flow batteries designed for large-scale energy storage have been around since the 1980s, and some are now commercially available. What makes this battery different is that it stores energy in a unique liquid chemical formula that combines charged iron with a neutral-pH phosphate-based liquid electrolyte, or energy carrier.

How long does an ESS iron flow battery last?

THE TIME HAS COME FOR STORAGE. ESS iron flow battery solutions are the most environmentally responsible and cost-effective energy storage systems on the market. Designed for 25-year operating life with minimal annual operations and maintenance (O&M) requirements

Are all-liquid flow batteries suitable for long-term energy storage?

Among the numerous all-liquid flow batteries, all-liquid iron-based flow batteries with iron complexes redox couples serving as active material are appropriate for long duration energy storage because of the low cost of the iron electrolyte and the flexible design of power and capacity.

How much does an all-iron flow battery cost?

Benefiting from the low cost of iron electrolytes, the overall cost of the all-iron flow battery system can be reached as low as $76.11 per kWh based on a 10 h system with a power of 9.9 kW. This work provides a new option for next-generation cost-effective flow batteries for long duration large scale energy storage.

Are flow batteries suitable for long duration energy storage?

Flow batteries are particularly well-suited for long duration energy storage because of their features of the independent design of power and energy, high safety and long cycle life , . The vanadium flow battery is the ripest technology and is currently at the commercialization and industrialization stage.