The International Zinc Association (IZA) has launched the Zinc Battery Initiative.
Recent extreme weather events, amplified by climate change, have once again focused attention on the future role of fossil fuels and the capacity and resilience of energy grids worldwide.
One of the most impactful ways of addressing this is through cost-effective energy storage. Energy storage can help address solar and wind power’s intermittency. It can also help respond to large fluctuations in demand by capturing and storing excess energy during low demand and bringing it online during peak times. Energy storage also helps provide resilience by serving as a backup energy supply when generation is interrupted. It will also play a pivotal role in electrifying transport, and other applications where power is needed, but tethered connections to the grid are not practical.
Zinc batteries for long-duration storage
Zinc batteries are versatile, offering flexible designs with broad operating temperatures, high power discharge, and are capable of long-duration storage. Zinc has strong supply chains in all major regions, with production in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. Zinc batteries also have an excellent safety record, making them an ideal choice where physical safety is essential.
“The advancement of zinc battery technologies, resulting in low-cost, sustainable, and safe options for key applications represents a disruptive innovation with significant impacts on these markets going forward,” said Andrew Green, executive director of the International Zinc Association.
Members of the ZBI include ZincFive, Zinc8, Salient Energy, Urban Electric Power, e-Zinc, ZAF Energy Systems, and AEsir Technologies.
