Redflow cracks China battery market, with deal on EV charging station

ASX listed energy storage company Redflow has been tapped to supply 100kWh of its ZBM2 zinc bromine flow batteries for a solar and electric vehicle smart grid project in China, in a deal with Beijing-based flow battery maker ZbestPower.

The project, sponsored by the China National Energy Bureau and managed by ZbestPower, will incorporate Redflow’s batteries in a 1MWh energy storage system that will be paired with 66kW of solar, to power a carport with 18 EV fast charging points.

Using a smart energy management system, the solar and zinc bromine batteries will allow the Haidong Transportation Group to charge its electric vehicles using cheap solar electricity, while also testing various different storage technologies.

For Redflow, the aim is first to demonstrate the technical and economic chops of the ZBM2 system, and then use the success of the smart grid project as “a key springboard” to develop further projects in China.

“Energy storage in China is a large strategic market opportunity for Redflow,” said the company’s CEO Tim Harris in a statement over the weekend, pointing to forecasts suggesting the nation’s battery storage capacity will reach nearly 20GW by 2023.

“With China transitioning to greater use of renewable energy, The China National Development and Reform Commission has called for greater investment in flow batteries that is leading to a surge in projects focused on flow battery solutions,” Harris added.

“Redflow is well-placed to address these opportunities.”

For ZbestPower, which bills itself as China’s leading provider of zinc-bromine flow battery technology and storage-based clean energy solutions, the collaboration with Redflow offers a chance to learn from a company described as one of the best.

“We value the opportunity to work with Redflow, which is recognised as the world leader in zinc-bromine flow battery technology, to support the energy needs of China,” said ZbestPower CEO Luke Lu.