Efficient batteries critical to renewable energy success
Battery energy storage systems are essential to the successful integration of renewables into our electrical grid. This is in part due to the intermittent nature of renewable electricity generation, and the challenges of matching availability with demand. “Safety is a paramount requirement in storing renewable energy, given the size these battery packs need to be and the investments that need to be made,” explains LOLABAT scientific technical coordinator Fabrice Fourgeot from SUNERGY in France. “And while Li-ion batteries are useful for things like electric vehicles, they are not an optimal solution for stationary storage. There has been a clear need for battery chemistries alternative to Li-ion that are safe, have a long lifespan, and are also highly recyclable.”
Rechargeable nickel-zinc battery technology
The key objective of the LOLABAT project was to develop new rechargeable nickel-zinc battery (RNZB) technology capable of delivering long-life, low-cost batteries with optimal safety. “The project was composed of 17 partner organisations from seven different countries,” notes Fourgeot. “The team covered the whole battery value chain from raw materials and cell and battery construction through to end users and recycling services.” The project team was able to address a number of technical issues long associated with unstable zinc electrodes in a rechargeable cell, in part through developing a patented electrode formulation. Battery packs were constructed and tested before being trialled across a number of different operational scenarios.
Cost-effective and safe energy storage
The batteries were used to store energy at a hybrid hydraulic power plant, and to manage the energy needs of a smart building. An energy storage solution to meet the needs of remote rural communities was also tested. These trials demonstrated the ability of the new battery system to deliver cost-effective and safe energy storage for a range of renewable applications. “Ensuring recyclability was also a key element of the project,” says Fourgeot. “To achieve this, we used a process with a carbon footprint 38 % lower than conventional procedures, and were able to achieve recycling rates of 63 %.” Life-cycle cost analysis studies also showed that these nickel-zinc batteries are more cost-effective than both Li-ion and lead-acid batteries.
Integrating renewable energies into the electrical grid
Fourgeot and his colleagues hope that these results represent the first step towards achieving a viable European RNZB industry. Since project completion, three new patents have been secured, which could open the way for European leadership in the stationary energy storage sector. “We know that stationary energy storage is critical to effectively integrating renewable energies into our electrical grid,” he adds. “We have shown that this new battery technology is safe, highly recyclable, and can be produced using readily available raw materials. All this is beneficial for both the environment and job creation.” Next steps include bringing the prototype battery closer towards commercialisation, scaling up the demonstrations and simulating more working environments. Another key aim is to achieve a recycling rate of 80 %, which will further contribute towards achieving a more circular economy. "We think that LOLABAT has established a solid foundation for this technology,” says Fourgeot. “This will now be further developed over the coming years, and our ambition is to start mass production from 2030.”
Keywords
LOLABAT, batteries, renewable, energy, fossil fuels, Li-ion, nickel, zinc
