Lithium sulfur flow battery with 250 Wh/L energy density – pv magazine International

January 13, 2023 Maria Maisch

Edinburg-based StorTera has developed a liquid circulation battery (SLIQ), which is a novel, long-term renewable vitality storage system. It combines some great benefits of lithium-ion expertise, particularly excessive vitality density and quick response, with the advantages of circulation batteries, akin to a low degree of storage prices.

“By combining these ideas, now we have overcome the inherent limitations of the lithium sulfur battery which have prevented it from being efficiently commercialized at scale,” mentioned StorTera COO Brenda Park. pv journal.

With an vitality density of 250 Wh/L, SLIQ is acknowledged as probably the most vitality dense circulation battery at the moment being developed.

“Attributable to its excessive vitality density, SLIQ can change present lithium expertise in any variety of functions whereas offering an extended life (as much as 30 years) with little degradation in effectivity,” mentioned Park.

The expertise is claimed to offer millisecond response occasions and as much as eight hours of vitality storage over 20 years and a minimal of seven,500 cycles. The system is claimed to supply higher security with out refrigeration necessities and excessive flash level supplies.

“We try to make it a very sustainable battery expertise, constructing a round economic system round it utilizing recovered or recycled uncooked supplies each time attainable and by making them reusable as a lot as attainable,” mentioned Park.

StorTera’s system works by pumping an energy-dense liquid via its proprietary membrane stack to offer long-term storage. The only fluid design means fewer system parts, whereas low-cost supplies and manufacturing methods additional contribute to price financial savings. StorTera has a said purpose of reaching capital prices of roughly GBP 120 ($146.20)/kW and GBP 75/kWh by 2022, in response to its web site.

“As it could actually present a two-millisecond response time and long-term vitality storage, it’s properly suited to grid scale functions and/or integration with photo voltaic or wind farms,” ​​mentioned Park. “Mixed with our clever management platform, SLIQ affords distinct benefits in industrial and industrial functions the place it may be optimized repeatedly in response to grid and climate information or by predicting demand peaks.”

In late November, StorTera secured round GBP 5 million from the UK authorities to assist construct a big, eight-hour SLIQ demonstrator, which will likely be put in in Edinburgh in 2024. The prototype SLIQ will use a novel cylindrical cell structure in a modular format to optimize system manufacturing, set up, and upkeep. With a deal with sustainability, the system will use recyclable supplies and wooden trade merchandise. On the finish of the undertaking, eight modular models will likely be mixed to construct a 200 kW/1.6 MWh demonstrator SLIQ.

“Whereas creating SLIQ, we supplied bespoke small and medium scale lithium ferro phosphate (LFP) battery programs built-in with our clever platform to public sector, home and industrial clients within the UK. We’re additionally piloting modern good grids within the UK and Canada that exhibit the advantages that clever vitality storage can supply to clients,” mentioned Park. “Our industrial initiatives pave the best way for SLIQ when it’s commercialized within the subsequent few years.”