Brisbane firm to make huge zinc battery in California

https://www.copyright link/companie...ge-zinc-battery-in-california-20230531-p5dcpv

Brisbane firm to make huge zinc battery in California

Mark LudlowJun 1, 2023 – 9.29am

Redflow chief executive Tim Harris said the $50m deal with the California Energy Commission is a “game changer”. Olive + Maevenone
Redflow chief executive Tim Harris said the new CEC deal, which will now be formalised as a contract, was a “game changer” for the company as it attempts to grow its presence in the large US market.

“We’ve always been attracted to the US market because it’s so huge, growing and a little bit more innovative, particularly in California where they are really leaning into lithium [battery] alternatives,” Mr Harris told The Australian Financial Review.

“This is 10 times bigger than what we have done before and it takes us into the next sphere of what we can and want to do.”

Lithium-ion batteries are dominant across the globe – mainly due to them being mass-produced by China – but lithium alternatives are gaining traction.

While lithium-ion batteries are ideal for fast-use, flow batteries such as Redflow’s zinc-bromide, are better for longer duration storage for renewables, especially in the early evening when the wind is not blowing and the sun is not shining.

Mr Harris said longer duration storage of four to 12 hours is the “sweet spot” for Redlow which has also developed a hibernation mode for its batteries.

“It basically means we can put the battery to sleep fully charged and it can be used whenever you like. It’s like energy in a bottle, whereas other batteries are use it or lose it type scenario,” he said.

The new CEC deal, which was announced on Thursday morning, will include 2000, 10 kilowatt-hour batteries - featuring 20 in a pod - to provide energy storage for the Native American community.


An artists impression of Redflow’s 20MWh battery and storage project for Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians. none
California, which is already a world leader in renewable technology, has committed to a target of 45 to 55 gigawatt of long duration energy storage by 2045 to support grid stability and the state’s clean energy transition targets.

The grant to Redflow came from the CEC’s $215 million long duration energy storage grant program.

Faraday Microgrids, a California developer and contractor that has deployed a number of CEC grant-funded microgrid projects, is the grant recipient and project lead, and will purchase the battery system from Redflow.

CEC director of energy research and development division Jonah Steinbuck said the project was an important step in California’s clean energy transition.

“It reflects the CEC’s goal to commercialise proven long-duration energy storage solutions and support the energy sovereignty of tribal nations such as the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians,” he said.

“With emerging energy storage technologies such as those developed and deployed by Redflow and Faraday, we will be better positioned to expand and diversify California’s energy storage portfolio, reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and enhance the reliability and resilience of our grid.”

Mr Harris said the closer collaboration between the US and Australia on climate action will provide more opportunities for Australian companies.

“Underneath that climate compact, is a call-out for the development of energy storage options as part of that partnership. That’s pretty exciting for us,” he said.

“The IRA will have a massive multiplier effect for companies like us in terms of the attractiveness of the market. The size of the energy storage market under the IRA is pretty transformational.”

Redflow produces its zinc-bromide flow batteries at its factory in Thailand which is aiming to produce 8000 batteries a year by next year.

News and analysis on the obstacles and opportunities in the transition to a net-zero economy. Sign up to our weekly Carbon Challenge newsletter.