Redflow brings solar plus battery power to remote Thai villagers

In pg 22 of the AFR this morning.

https://www.copyright link/news/red...ower-to-remote-thai-villagers-20190212-h1b67o


Redflow brings solar plus battery power to remote Thai villagers
Ben Potter
Redflow is helping to bring power to a remote Thai village stranded in a wildlife reserve by installing 10 of its novel batteries alongside three conventional lithium-ion batteries and using them to store surplus solar energy.

The village of Ban Pha Dan, 70 kilometres from Chiang Mai in mountainous northern Thailand, has been denied power by a ban on power poles in the surrounding wildlife reserve. It has now been supplied with a battery system to store surplus energy from the solar panels for later use, and Redflow believes the case demonstrates the benefits of standalone "microgrids" for remote communities in Asia, Africa and even Australia.


The village of Ban Pha Dan, 70 kilometres from Chiang Mai in mountainous northern Thailand, is being supplied with batteries to store surplus energy from solar panels for later use.

"Just like mobile telephony leapfrogged fixed-line telecommunications in developing countries, microgrids can deliver the benefits of modern technology without the massive infrastructure spend required by grid-based energy utilities," said Redflow chief executive Tim Harris.

The deal is one of a series that have given a fillip to the Brisbane-based company after it struggled to promote its novel "flow bromide" batteries over the juggernaut of lithium-ion batteries made by Tesla, Panasonic, Samsung and Germany's Sonnen that have cornered the market for energy storage and enjoyed surging volumes and falling costs.

This microgrid project was initiated by Thailand's Energy Ministry and the Renewable Energy for Sustainable Association, with financial support from the Energy Conservation Promotion Fund.

Model for remote communities
Mr Harris said the Ban Pha Dan deployment was a compelling model for remote communities in developing and developed countries. "This solar-powered microgrid with energy storage shows how to provide environmentally-friendly energy for remote communities," he said.

"Without the cost and pollution of diesel generators, this system gives local people access to energy for lighting, refrigeration and water pumps, which significantly improves their quality of life."

Redflow shares have been stuck in a range of 7¢ to 10¢ since June as the company – which counts internet pioneer and Tesla electric vehicle fan Simon Hackett as its largest shareholder – has struggled with its low profile, retreated from the residential market and rebooted its strategy under Mr Harris' leadership. A year ago shares fetched 16.7¢.


Thai Energy Minister Siri Jinghapongphan with Redflow batteries in the village of Ban Pha Dan.

The company has installed flow bromide battery systems – which it says are more stable, safe and longer lasting than lithium-ion batteries – at an Optus exchange in the Daintree rainforest in far north Queensland and at the Knox City childcare centre in Melbourne's outer eastern suburbs.

The firm adapted zinc bromide "flow" battery technology developed overseas for large industrial applications to smaller-scale commercial and residential use.

Zinc bromine technology uses liquid electrolytes of zinc to store energy, and passes them through a membrane to charge and discharge the battery.