Flow Battery Market Welcomes New Competitor: XL Batteries
In a groundbreaking development, XL Batteries, a company specialising in rechargeable energy storage systems, has unveiled a new flow battery technology that promises to revolutionise the energy storage industry.
The technology, which generates electricity by circulating liquid electrolytes through a cell stack, was first conceived in the late 1980s. The first large-scale implementation occurred in Japan in the 1990s. However, it was only recently that a significant breakthrough was made, thanks to a serendipitous discovery by Tom Sisto at Columbia University in 2019.
The new molecule developed by XL Batteries is part of the industry's pursuit of economical long-duration energy storage at scale, which has been elusive so far. Unlike traditional vanadium flow batteries, XL Batteries' systems use pH-neutral water and organic petrochemical feedstocks, making them three to four times cheaper than they would otherwise be.
The durability of XL Batteries' flow batteries is impressive. They can last for more than 20 years and can store energy for six hours or more, making them economically viable for long-term energy storage. The hours of storage the system can discharge depends on the amount of liquid in the tanks and the number of stackable containers a company installs. The duration of the battery can be increased by doubling the size of the tank.
XL Batteries' flow batteries have similar response times and do not have a flammability problem, making them well-suited for industries with high safety needs, such as petrochemicals. They also start to make economic sense for energy storage of at least six hours.
The company has recently finished a pilot project with bulk liquid services provider Stolthaven Terminals and has announced an agreement with data center developer Prometheus Hyperscale for a 333-kilowatt demonstration-scale system in 2027, with commitments for two 125 megawatt-hour commercial-scale systems in 2028 and 2029.
XL Batteries has also secured a $7.5 million seed investment from Merrin Investors, bringing their total funding to date to $28 million. Despite the founder and CEO of the company not being explicitly named in the provided search results, the company's innovative approach to energy storage is undeniably making waves in the industry.
The molecule, originally contained in a layer of bright red paint, forms the basis for the long-duration energy storage systems developed by XL Batteries. This discovery marks a significant step forward in the quest for affordable, long-lasting energy storage solutions, a challenge that the industry has been grappling with for years.
As we look towards a future where renewable energy sources become increasingly prevalent, the need for efficient and cost-effective energy storage solutions becomes more pressing. With their new flow battery technology, XL Batteries is poised to play a crucial role in meeting this demand.
Read also:
- Tata Motors Establishes 25,000 Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Nationwide in India
- Tesla's Nevada workforce has escalated to a daily output of 1,000 Powerwall units.
- AI-Enhanced Battery-Swapping Station in Southeast Asia Officially Opens Its Doors
- G7 leaders convene prior to the upcoming Hiroshima Summit, under the guidance of JAMA heads.
