Redflow says trials show large scale storage “cost competitive”

Australian battery technology developer RedFlow says trials of its zinc-bromine “flow” batteries shows that the technology is “cost competitive” in large scale applications on the electricity grid.

The Brisbane-based and ASX-listed company said in a statement it has completed its initial trials with its prototype large scale energy storage system and said it is already in discussions with potential customers for the product.

“We believe the market opportunities for this product for large scale energy storage from wind and solar and for a variety of “mini-grid“ applications are considerable,” CEO Stuart Smith said in a statement.

Redflow envisages a modular system that would incorporate 60 batteries in an easily transportable 20 foot shipping container housing, which could produce 0.6MWh of energy at up to 750V DC. “Any number of separate systems can then be linked to comprise MW scale storage capacity as required,” it says.

“The pricing is attractive and reference designs are provided to any potential customer to facilitate the volume sale of our core product, the modular zinc-bromine flow battery.”

The company has struck a manufacturing agreement with Flextronics and expects to be delivering its first commercial volumes later this year.

Smith added: ”The fact that we now also have a cost competitive large scale and high voltage product capable of deployment in the field places us in a strong position.”

RedFlow’s standard 3kW/8kWh zinc-bromide battery module (ZBM) is designed to be integrated into energy storage systems for a range of stationary applications. It says its zinc bromine batteries are capable of a deep charge and discharges on a daily basis, that make them ideal for storage of intermittent renewable energy, managing peak load on the grid and supporting off-grid or micro-grid power systems.