TECHNOLOGY SUMMARY

Organic Aqueous Flow Batteries are large-scale energy storage devices that help stabilize the electric grid. Stability is crucial as we introduce additional “green energy”,such as wind and solar, onto the grid. The major advantages of this new chemistry include a 3X cost reduction, increased safety and >20 year reliability.

Primary Application Area: Materials, Chemical

Technology Development Status: Prototype

FIGURES OF MERIT

Value Proposition: Redox flow batteries (RFBs) are the most promising technology to deliver grid-scale storage with the desired 20 year lifetime, operational reliability and safety required. Unfortunately, the cost of current RFBs are in the range of $450/kWh or higher with no foreseeable approach to achieve battery costs necessary for widespread adoption (~$150/kWh). This is largely due to the raw materials cost of the chemicals (active redox couples) used in the RFB, such as vanadium. Researchers at PNNL have developed a new class of RFBs that utilize very low cost, water soluble, commodity chemicals – such as those used in fertilizers – as the active redox couples. In addition, the commodity chemicals used in this battery are far more benign and environmentally safe, than the highly corrosive solutions used today. This new battery, when produced in large volumes, can achieve the required cost targets for ubiquitous adoption and help stabilize the electrical grid of today while enabling widespread penetration of green energy, such as wind and solar, in the U.S. and the world.

SHOWCASE SUMMARY

Organization Type: Academic/Gov Lab

Showcase Booth #: 625

Website: http://www.pnnl.gov

GOVT/EXTERNAL FUNDING SOURCES

External Funding to Date: Research supported by US DOE Office of Electricity Delivery & Energy Reliability - Dr. Imre Gyuk, Energy Storage Program Manager.