Switzerland builds most powerful redox-flow battery
4 hours ago
- #renewable energy
- #energy storage
- #Swiss innovation
- Swiss company FlexBase is building what it claims is the world's most powerful redox-flow battery in Laufenburg, Switzerland.
- The battery will have a capacity of 1.2 GW, comparable to a nuclear power plant, and is designed to store renewable energy and stabilize power grids.
- It is part of a larger technology center and is scheduled to become operational in 2029, with an estimated cost of CHF 1-5 billion.
- Redox-flow batteries use liquid electrolytes stored in tanks, unlike lithium-ion batteries, and can be recharged with surplus renewable electricity.
- Swissgrid plans to connect to the battery, viewing such large-scale storage as vital for future grid stability, especially with fluctuating renewable sources.
- While redox-flow technology is more established in Asia, some experts, like ETH Zurich professor Tobias Schmidt, believe metal-ion batteries like lithium-ion have a more promising future due to cost and innovation trends.