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January 16,
2023
Iron-Air Batteries 10 Times Cheaper Than Li-Ion Will
Start Mass Production in 2024
Li-ion batteries may be today’s best energy storage solution, but they
are far from perfect. This is why scientists constantly develop new
technologies, some more promising than others. Among those less
popular are the metal-air batteries, which were first designed in
1878. If you’re unfamiliar with this battery type, the zinc-air cells
used in hearing-aid devices are a variation of the metal-air cells.
Current metal-air batteries are not rechargeable because they begin to
corrode pretty quickly once the airflow starts.
A team of researchers at MIT found a way to reverse the corroding
process, so the rechargeable iron-air battery development started. The
iron was chosen because it is cheap
and abundant,
making the batteries truly affordable. The researchers called the
process “reverse
rusting,” allowing
for efficient storage and release of energy. Current estimates
indicate that iron-air batteries could cost around $20 per kWh of
capacity, compared to up to $200 per kWh in the case of Li-Ion
batteries.
Iron-air battery characteristics make it unsuitable for
electric vehicles because
iron is heavier than lithium. Also, they have a slow charge and
recharge cycle, so forget fast charging. Nevertheless, they are
perfect for grid-level energy storage, especially as they excel at
long-term energy storage. Because they are slow, they cannot handle
demand spikes, so they need to be doubled by Li-ion packs.
Nevertheless, they can deliver more than 3 MW output capacity per
acre, which is nothing to scoff at.
The scientists that invented the iron-air rechargeable battery founded
Form Energy, a startup that aims to commercialize the technology. When
we first wrote about
their work,
they were on the way to starting commercial production of a low-cost
iron-air battery by 2024. In the meantime, they attracted investors
interested in their technology, including Bill Gates’s Breakthrough
Energy Ventures and steel giant ArcelorMittal. They are one step
closer to fulfilling their objectives with the new factory they are
building in West Virginia.
The $760-million project will occupy
55 acres of
property along the Ohio River in Weirton, West Virginia. The city was
one of America’s most important steel towns, and this could help Form
Energy source the iron needed to manufacture the batteries. The
company has received a state financial incentive package worth $290
million to set foot in West Virginia and will create 750 jobs when the
battery factory operates at full capacity. This is projected to happen
in 2024, which is in line with initial plans announced last spring.
Green Play Ammonia™, Yielder® NFuel Energy.
Spokane, Washington. 99212
www.exactrix.com
509 995 1879 cell, Pacific.
exactrix@exactrix.com
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