(PVM) ACCIONA TO TEST ZINC-BROMIDE BATTERIES

Spanish renewable energy company Acciona Energía will test the zinc bromide battery technology developed by Anglo-Australian manufacturer Gelion at its photovoltaic testing plant in Navarra.

The project is part of the I'mnovation program, which Acciona Energy launched to assess emerging energy storage solutions through collaborations with companies from around the world.

Ten energy storage companies participated in the program and four were selected to test their technologies at Acciona's facilities, including Gelion. The selected startups will have the opportunity to test their technologies for a period of between six months and one year at the 1.2 MW Montes del Cierzo experimental photovoltaic plant in Tudela, Navarra, starting in July 2022.

If the tests with Acciona Energía are successful, Gelion's Endure battery will form part of the European company's supplier portfolio as a renewable energy storage provider. pv magazine - link - Pilar Sanchez Molina - link - more like this (Spain) - link - more like this - link

(REC) GELION PARTNERS BATTERY ENERGY

Inside the Gelion lab and testing facility. (Supplied)

An innovative Australian invented battery technology will soon be manufactured in Australia, with University of Sydney spin-off Gelion set to partner with Sydney based battery manufacturer Battery Energy.

Gelion was spun out of of the University of Sydney in 2015 as an attempt to commercialise an innovative non-flow zinc-bromide battery technology, originally developed by USYD professor of chemistry Thomas Maschmeyer.

“There is a revolution coming in energy production and distribution worldwide,” Maschmeyer said.

“Across the globe, governments and companies are setting ambitious net-zero-carbon emission targets. To achieve these goals, renewable energy will need to be stored everywhere – and that means batteries.”

One key benefit of the Gelion battery technology is its safety advantages over many common battery types, with the battery’s electrolytic gel being inherently fire retardant. The battery technology also allows the system to be completely discharged of power, without any long term impacts to battery performance.

“Gelion batteries are safe, robust and recyclable,” Maschmeyer added. “For stationary energy storage, zinc-bromide batteries do away with the need for expensive cooling and maintenance systems. And they can’t catch fire.” - link - Michael Mazengarb - link - more like this - link