Zinc-based batteries offer a sustainable, high-performance alternative for renewable energy storage, with recent advances tackling traditional limitations.
Zinc-based batteries, particularly zinc-hybrid flow batteries, are gaining traction for energy storage in the renewable energy sector. For instance, zinc-bromine batteries have been extensively used for power quality control, renewable energy coupling, and electric vehicles. These batteries have been scaled up from kilowatt to megawatt capacities.
Grid energy storage: Zinc-air batteries can be used for grid energy storage to store excess energy generated from renewable sources such as solar and wind power. They can help stabilize the grid by providing backup power during peak demand periods or when renewable energy sources are unavailable.
Could zinc-ion batteries be the future of energy storage?
With grid-scale energy storage potential at a considerably cheaper cost — and higher levels of safety — widespread commercialization of zinc-ion batteries could be exactly what is needed to integrate renewables into energy infrastructure in Canada and other countries.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Dave Chidley One incredibly promising option to replace lithium for grid scale energy storage is the rechargeable zinc-ion battery. Emerging only within the last 10 years, zinc-ion batteries offer many advantages over lithium. These include cheaper material costs, increased safety and easier recycling options.
Moreover, zinc has a large abundance globally; thus, it is very cost-effective ($3.19 per kg) and possesses a high capacity (5854 Ah/L and 820 Ah/kg). In addition, zinc enables redox reaction in ambient air and thus can also be utilized in zinc-air batteries (Wu et al. 2019).
What is the future of the zinc battery market?
The zinc battery market is expected to grow to 10% of the 1,028 GWh energy storage market by 2030 given zinc's abundance and zinc battery innovation. According to the BloombergNEF New Energy Outlook report, the energy storage market is expected to grow exponentially.