Industry Sprints: Batteries for Emerging Economies, high voltage redox flow batteries for demanding applications

Redox flow batteries (RFBs) represent one of the most promising solutions for long-duration grid-scale energy storage and one possibility for improving energy access in emerging economies. Almost all electrolytes used in RFBs are sensitive to trace quantities of oxygen, requiring purging with an inert atmosphere (and air-free conditions thereafter) to slow the reduction in capacity over time.

The project seeks to advance technology that permits stable battery operation even if air impurities are present. The technology could improve system robustness and increase cell voltages above 1.5 V, rivalling those of lead-acid batteries, permitting substantially lower projected energy costs relative to other RFB technologies.