Researchers in Australia have created a new kind of water-based “flow battery” that could transform how households store rooftop solar energy. Credit: Stock Monash scientists designed a fast, safe liquid battery for home solar. The system could outperform expensive lithium-ion options.
[pdf] Retaining up to 80% of their original capacity, these batteries can serve 5–8 additional years in stationary applications. For clinics, schools, and agricultural sites, they can provide dependable storage at 30–50% less cost than new battery systems.
[pdf] A critical factor in designing flow batteries is the selected chemistry. The two electrolytes can contain different chemicals, but today the most widely used setup has vanadium in different oxidation states.
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