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Rechargeable Zinc-Air Battery Nears Commercial Release (phys.org)
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.
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.
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
Typically solar power is dumped onto the wires, for use by factories during the day...... and then returned to homeowners by the Electric company at night
The problem is that netting to grid doesn't scale. Power consumption is higher during the day, but actually peaks between 4-7pm, when many businesses are still operating, but many people are also arriving at home and kicking on the AC. So power demand peaks just as the sun is setting.
There are several solutions:
1. Storage.
2. HVDC long distance transmission, so Arizona sun can power ACs in Florida.
3. Flexible pricing. People will conserve if they save enough. They don't need to run the dryer at 5pm.
We will likely need all of the above.
Combustion, no one knows how it works!
The release of phlogiston.
Have gnu, will travel.
"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.