Italian vanadium liquid flow energy storage

What is a vanadium flow battery?

The vanadium flow battery (VFB) as one kind of energy storage technique that has enormous impact on the stabilization and smooth output of renewable energy. Key materials like membranes, electrode, and electrolytes will finally determine the performance of VFBs.

Are vanadium redox flow batteries suitable for stationary energy storage?

Vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs) can effectively solve the intermittent renewable energy issues and gradually become the most attractive candidate for large-scale stationary energy storage. However, their low energy density and high cost still bring challenges to the widespread use of VRFBs.

How does a vanadium battery store electrical energy?

In order to store electrical energy, vanadium species undergo chemical reactions to various oxidation states via reversible redox reactions (Eqs. (1) – (4)). The main constituent in the working medium of this battery is vanadium which is dissolved in a concentration range of 1–3 M in a 1–2 M H 2 SO 4 solution .

Why is vanadium a problem?

However, as the grid becomes increasingly dominated by renewables, more and more flow batteries will be needed to provide long-duration storage. Demand for vanadium will grow, and that will be a problem. “Vanadium is found around the world but in dilute amounts, and extracting it is difficult,” says Rodby.

Why are innovative membranes needed for vanadium redox flow batteries?

Innovative membranes are needed for vanadium redox flow batteries, in order to achieve the required criteria; i) cost reduction, ii) long cycle life, iii) high discharge rates and iv) high current densities. To achieve this, variety of materials were tested and reported in literature. 7.1. Zeolite membranes

Does vanadium cross contaminate electrolytes?

And second, if some of the vanadium in one tank flows through the membrane to the other side, there is no permanent cross-contamination of the electrolytes, only a shift in the oxidation states, which is easily remediated by rebalancing the electrolyte volumes and restoring the oxidation state via a minor charge step.