Alkaline zinc-iron flow battery has drawn attention due to its features of high open-cell voltage, low cost, and environmental friendliness.

Recently, a research group led by Prof. LI Xianfeng from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) developed a 10 kW alkaline zinc-iron flow battery system. And it was installed and operated in the plant of Baodi Goldsun Co., Ltd in Yantai, Shandong province, China.

The system was made up of electrolyte part, independent kilowatt class cell stacks and the corresponding control system.

Coupled with 13 kW photovoltaic cell, the demo could realize the functions of peak load leveling integration and optimization of renewables, uninterrupted power supply for important loads, etc. via the combination of on-grid and off-grid mode. The system could afford an energy efficiency of 78.7% at constant power of 10 kW.

The demonstration of alkaline zinc-iron flow battery will lay a solid foundation for further development and industrial implementation of this technology.

The 10 kW alkaline zinc-Iron flow battery system (Image by YUAN zhizhang)

The project was supported by CAS STS Program, CAS Engineering Laboratory for Electrochemical Energy Storage, and Major Scientific and Technological Innovation Project of Shandong. (Text by YUAN Zhizhang)