Periodic Reporting for period 2 - MELODY (Membrane-free Low cost high Density RFB)
Berichtszeitraum: 2021-10-01 bis 2023-03-31
Redox Flow Batteries (RFB) are a key enabling technology for the energy transition. Mass market introduction of RFBs has been hampered by various factors – material scarcity and cost (e.g. vanadium based RBF), limited catalyst lifetime, membrane costs, system complexity and safety issues. The development of an economically viable, environmentally benign and sustainable redox-flow battery (RFB) storage systems is therefore eagerly awaited. MELODY will develop a sustainable RFB technology that is able to reduce the costs of electricity storage to an absolute minimum.
To achieve a breakthrough in inexpensive, large scale energy storage, the MELODY project leverages 3 key elements:
1) A membraneless flow battery concept
2) The use of a widely abundant redox chemistry of hydrogen and bromine
3) A simplified system design
The MELODY project aims to increase the power density of this novel redox flow battery concept to 20 kW/m2, and reduce the price of stored electricity well below 0.05 €/kWh. Ultimately, the reduction of the price for stored electricity means this redox flow battery can be applied at large scale as an electricity storage technology to buffer daily fluctuations in energy supply and demand.
For all these three aspects (catalysts, complexing agents, cell design), we have developed the technology beyond the state-of-the-art, and having the targets for the end of the project within reach.
The concept of a single tank design also challenged the separation between liquid (this case HBr/Br2) and gas (this case H2). We have developed separation strategies to allow a single tank design, which could benefit the complexity and costs of other flow batteries as well.
When further unlocking the potential of a membraneless flow battery, including high power density, high energy density and system stability, we bring down the cost of electricity storage in flow batteries well below 0.05 €/kWh. Hydrogen and bromine are abundantly available on a global scale, as water and bromide salts, respectively. The low price, together with the almost unlimited availability of resources for this battery type, allow to scale the H2-Br2 flow battery for large (grid) scale energy storage, and allow an energy transition to fully renewable energy.