A New Adaption of 100-Year-Old Technology: Potential of Zinc Batteries in Decarbonization
Having heard rumblings of zinc battery potential for months, I was excited for the opportunity to speak with an expert on the subject: Dr. Josef Daniel-Ivad. As Head of the Zinc Battery Initiative, he has spent years researching zinc's abilities and potential to become a leading material in energy storage. Up to now, the dominance of Lithium-Ion batteries has garnered significant coverage and investment. However, Dr. Daniel-Ivad outlined that Zinc batteries are a complementary source, offering energy storage solutions that cannot be accommodated with lithium-ion batteries.
Zinc is particularly suited for long-duration energy storage. While zinc could help to solve this glaring need in the transition to renewable energy, this will require tremendous reserves of zinc. One of the most advantageous aspects of Zinc, along with energy density, is availability. Compared to Lithium, where the natural resource is found predominantly in South America, and the refinement and manufacturing are dominated by China, Zinc's supply chain is far more open. To that end, Zinc is mined and refined in 50 countries, providing a broad supply chain for the growing market. Additionally, zinc batteries use a water-based system, so there is no fear of their catching fire or contributing to a fire's growth. This makes them an excellent option for indoor storage or locations where safety is a predominant concern.
All of these different benefits are best demonstrated in specific battery configurations. The long-term application for zinc is demonstrated in the form of zinc-flow batteries. With the possibility of up to 100 hours of storage, it is a strong option for long-term storage that does not require the complexity or cost of green hydrogen. Other batteries that would be better used for short-duration instantaneous power could use Nickel Zinc, as explained by Dr. Daniel-Ivad in an article by PV Magazine. These nickel-zinc batteries have thus far shown intense levels of adoption in transportation and data center storage.
Demonstrations of Zinc battery capabilities are already in place in grid stabilization and solar projects such as microgrids. Zinc Bromine (Zn-Br) batteries are another promising option for long-term storage and are found in behind-the-meter applications such as peak shifting. Additional possibilities emphasizing incorporation into the transmission grid are being explored to handle congestion and improve resiliency. The capabilities of this technology are on full display in a ZnBr system that is expected to provide 35 MWh of storage, capable of a 10-hour discharge for a 60 MWh solar and storage project in Southern California.
To understand the commercial applications of the different forms of Zinc batteries, I spoke to Tod Higinbothom, Chief Operating Officer at ZincFive, Inc. ZincFive is a leader in Nickel Zinc (NiZn) battery development that has helped prove the commercial viability of zinc storage batteries. When asked what made NickelZinc attractive for users, he answered concisely: higher energy density than lead and safer than lithium. However, he stressed that economics will continue to be the driving force behind which batteries will be adopted for which uses.
Interested in learning more about the technical advancements in the industry, I visited with Michael Burz, Co-Founder and President of Enzinc Inc. He spoke of the advances made in improving the lifespan of zinc batteries, particularly regarding the dendrite problem that has been a challenge to the industry for decades. This problem, put simply, was that over the battery's life, small dendrites would form, which would pierce the separator of the cathode and anode. This limited lifespan of batteries made zinc batteries a predominantly short-term energy storage source. However, new sponge structure technologies have eliminated dendrite growth, significantly improving the feasibility of zinc batteries for long-term storage.
Zinc has demonstrated viability as an energy storage solution. With high energy density, wide global availability, and no fear of fire or destruction, it is well suited for several clean energy applications. This confidence is mirrored in the prediction of zinc batteries controlling more of the market as time progresses, reaching 25% by 2050. However, it can by no means rest on its developments. The requirements of energy storage solutions are only getting more strenuous as more renewable production is added to the grid and products such as electric vehicles and data centers pull massive loads with increasing rapidity. In the race between energy production and energy storage, zinc will undoubtedly be a factor, but it remains to be seen to what degree.
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