Iron Fall Flow Battery

What is an iron flow battery?

In the 1970s, scientists at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) developed the first iron flow batteries using an iron/chromium system for photovoltaic applications. Over the next decade, these unique systems, which combine charged iron with an aqueous liquid energy carrier, were improved upon for large-scale energy storage.

Are iron-based aqueous redox flow batteries the future of energy storage?

The rapid advancement of flow batteries offers a promising pathway to addressing global energy and environmental challenges. Among them, iron-based aqueous redox flow batteries (ARFBs) are a compelling choice for future energy storage systems due to their excellent safety, cost-effectiveness and scalability.

Can iron-based aqueous flow batteries be used for grid energy storage?

A new iron-based aqueous flow battery shows promise for grid energy storage applications. A commonplace chemical used in water treatment facilities has been repurposed for large-scale energy storage in a new battery design by researchers at the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

Are iron flow batteries a good choice?

“The new iron flow battery is a good candidate for longer duration batteries, with discharge over 10-20 hours,” he said. “And we have improved on this old design because of a fundamental understanding of both the battery and the material design. By engaging in a deep dive into the materials, we discovered things we didn’t know before.