Redflow inks “non lithium” battery deal in US as demand for long duration storage grows

Australian battery manufacturer Redflow has been tapped to supply its “non-lithium” energy storage technology alternative to Ameresco, a New York-listed outfit that specialises in designing bespoke renewable and efficient energy solutions for commercial and industrial customers.

The strategic relationship, announced on Tuesday, will see Ameresco use Redflow’s zinc-bromide flow technology as part of a “flexible and modular” integrated solar and battery solution to meet increasing demand for medium- and long-duration storage.

Already, the two companies are working together on a commercial demonstration system incorporating Redflow’s 40kWh four-battery enclosure to one of Ameresco’s existing customer sites.

Beyond this, however, they “envision a wide deployment of systems” and are developing a number of solutions, including a smaller system program for retail branches, critical infrastructure in fire-prone areas, and federal government resilience projects.

At the other end of the scale, Ameresco and Redflow are also planning to build on Redflow’s existing enclosure system to offer a utility-scale solution that is scalable into the hundreds of MWh.

“Our zinc-bromine flow battery offers a non-lithium solution that is fire-safe, has an innovative hibernation feature, and suits a wide range of environments and use cases,” said Redflow chief and managing director Tim Harris.

“Additionally, we hope our partnering with Ameresco will initiate other exciting opportunities for our business pipeline and, over time, new markets globally,” Harris said.

Brisbane-based Redflow has had a number of key successes in the US market, including a deal to deliver a 2MWh battery solution to the Anaergia bioenergy project in California – at the time the company’s largest global battery sale ever.

The companies note that due to the abundant and widely available raw materials the batteries are amde from, they are well-positioned to meet the Inflation Reduction Act’s bonus tax credit local content requirements.

Doran Hole the executive vice president and CFO of Ameresco, says the partnership with Redflow and aligns with his company’s “relentless pursuit” of best-fit energy solutions.

“The demand for longer-duration energy storage is a critical and rapidly growing market opportunity that can unlock our customers’ ability to cost-effectively meet an increasing amount of their energy needs through renewable sources,” Hole said.