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Rechargeable Zinc-Air Battery Nears Commercial Release (phys.org)

Posted by EditorDavid on from the powering-up dept.

Long-time Slashdot reader necro81 writes: Reported in the NYTimes and in Phys.org: NantEnergy, a company backed by California billionaire Patrick Soon-Shiong, announced Wednesday that it has developed a rechargeable zinc-air battery that can store energy at far less cost than lithium-ion. The technology avoids some of the downsides of li-ion, like flammability and the use of cobalt.

Unlike many battery-related announcements, this one is backed by real-world use. Over the past several years, NantEnergy has deployed their batteries for stationary, micro-grid and cell-tower use in nine countries — about 55 MWh of capacity so far. They claim they can now take commercial orders, for delivery next year, at less than $100/kWh of capacity, which is one-half to one-fifth the cost of available lithium-ion grid storage.

3 of 64 comments (clear)

  1. I hope they succeed by DanDD · · Score: 4, Interesting

    More economical energy choices are always welcome and I hope they succeed. I'll be eagerly awaiting the day I can 'add to cart' and have one delivered.

    Zinc-bromine flow batteries are also making inroads, and offer better economics and scalability than Lithium Ion:

    https://redflow.com/

    However, it will be curious to see if mass production for the electric auto industry makes Lithium Ion even more economical over time. Zinc-bromine or Zinc-air are likely never going to be practical for portable transportation, but Lithium Ion has demonstrated both suitability and workable economics for both transportation and fixed energy storage.

    --
    "Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of the human race." - H. G. Wells
    1. Re:I hope they succeed by dargaud · · Score: 3, Interesting

      They won't because the world's supply of zinc will be exhausted within a few decades even without the use for battery. Zinc is used as a coating material, and as such it is impossible to recycle. And there are only a few mines and potential mines on the planet... It's one of those base elements whose supply is already critical, I don't think they'll be able to ramp it up for mass production of batteries.

      --
      Non-Linux Penguins ?
  2. Re:We have to stop by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 4, Interesting

    "powered by oxidizing zinc with oxygen from the air" Before the ecologists find out.

    Zinc-air batteries are already in common use for devices like hearing aids. They put out a pretty good amount of power, but not for a long time. . And they are really cheap.

    What I am interested in is how a zinc-air battery becomes rechargeable. Zinc generally gets the proverbial crap beat out of it in a battery.

    I wish there was a little more detail in the press release.

    --
    The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.