Research Overview

The flow battery energy storage solution comprises 2 electrolytes, which differs from the traditional battery design, where energy is stored as the electrode material. These electrocytes’ electrochemical nature drives the ion transfer and enables the storage and discharge of energy.

A flow battery can be used as a fuel cell and rechargeable battery. The fundamental working concept is to extract spent fuel and pump fresh electrolytes. Flow battery has technical advantages over typical batteries, including virtually unlimited life cycles, multiple deep discharges, and separate liquid tanks providing superior safety compared with traditional batteries.

Flow batteries are categorized as redox flow battery (uses the same material in different chemical forms in both electrolytes); hybrid redox flow battery (uses 2 materials in the form of electrolytes); and membrane-less redox flow battery (eliminates the use of membranes, but uses the fluid dynamics of laminar flow to keep the electrolytes separate while allowing ions to pass through). This study largely centers around grid-scale redox flow battery technologies.

Flow battery technologies are relatively mature, with Vanadium flow batteries and zinc-based flow batteries forming the largest share of deployable batteries. However, their high upfront costs, low energy density, and electrolyte maintenance requirements remain critical challenges to widespread deployment.