Future Tense Flow Batteries, windships, and a new approach to off-grid solar
Feb 27, 2025
Gavin Allwright, Secretary General of the International Windship Association, advocates for wind-powered cargo vessels, highlighting their environmental benefits and cost savings. Paul Munro, an Associate Professor in Human Geography, discusses the challenges of off-grid solar solutions in developing countries, including high breakdown rates and e-waste issues. Both guests delve into the promising future of flow batteries, emphasizing their safety, scalability, and potential to transform renewable energy storage while exploring the resurgence of wind energy in maritime transport.
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Flow Battery Advantages
- Flow batteries offer advantages over lithium-ion batteries, like longer lifespan (20-25 years), easier scalability, and better recyclability.
- They are also safer, with a lower fire risk due to their water-based electrolytes.
Flow Battery Applications
- Flow batteries are unsuitable for electric vehicles due to their weight but ideal for renewable energy grids needing long-duration storage (6+ hours).
- They excel in decarbonization efforts where longer energy storage is crucial.
Early Flow Battery Development
- In the mid-1980s, Maria Skyllas-Kazacos pioneered vanadium-based flow batteries, which were licensed to Mitsubishi Chemicals by the early 1990s.
- A large-scale 800 kWh flow battery was installed in a power station by 1997, demonstrating early success.