Redox Flow, Sodium-ion Batteries Show Promise for Green Grid
Researchers have analyzed the literature and determined that the outlook is bright for developing stationary energy storage technologies for the new electric grid.
After years of neglect, scientists and policy makers are focusing more attention on developing technologies needed to make the so-called “green grid” possible, according to an article, “Electrochemical Energy Storage for Green Grid,” in the American Chemical Society's Chemical Reviews. That’s the much-needed future electrical grid, an interconnected network for delivering solar and wind-based electricity from suppliers to consumers.
Zhenguo (Gary) Yang at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and colleagues analyzed the conclusions of more than 300 scientific studies and identified several technologies that can be used for energy storage for the green grid. These include high-tech batteries now in development that can efficiently store electricity in the form of chemicals and reversible release it on demand. Among the promising technologies are so-called redox flow and sodium-ion batteries, which could provide a low cost, high efficiency way to store energy.
In addition to the United States, several other countries such as China and countries in Europe are planning to increase research activities related to energy storage and development. “The growing interests as well as worldwide research and development activities suggest a bright outlook for developing stationary energy storage technologies for the future electric grid,” the article concludes.
Source: American Chemical Society