Researchers at Stanford University have created a new liquid metal battery that could store clean energy for the electricity grid.
The new concept uses liquid metal in a special type of rechargeable battery called a flow battery, CleanTechnica reports.
As our power generators transition to wind and solar, the goal is to develop powerful batteries that store more energy and cost less money. Flow batteries can be large enough and powerful enough to supply back up power to the grid.
Flow batteries vs regular batteries
A regular battery contains the liquid chemicals that store electricity inside its casing. But a flow battery keeps these liquids in external tanks and pumps them through the battery. The pumps can be powered by wind or solar power.
As they flow through the battery these charged liquids create and store electricity. Once they pass through the battery, the liquids return to the tanks to be reused.
Because the liquid chemicals are external, they can be topped up or replaced. This also means they last longer than closed rechargeable batteries systems.
Liquid metal battery alloy beats toxic contenders
The current generation of flow batteries relies on costly, toxic materials like vanadium and zinc bromide.
The Stanford team’s liquid metal is a cheap, non-toxic alloy of potassium and sodium. Theoretically, it has at least 10 times the available energy per gram as other potential liquids.
“We still have a lot of work to do,” says Antonia Baclig, a Ph.D candidate who is part of the research team. “But this is a new type of flow battery that could affordably enable much higher use of solar and wind power using Earth-abundant materials.”
Regular batteries still best for home storage
Flow batteries can be massive, making them ideal candidates for storing the energy needed to power the grid.
But conventional rechargeable batteries like the Tesla Powerwall 2, sonnen and Enphase batteries are still the best choice for home solar installations. They can be perfectly matched to store the power generated by rooftop solar panels.
Once flow battery technology is perfected, it will help renewable energy restructure the utility sector. It will be one more reason for Australia to switch on to renewable energy sources as our national power source.
