Electrochem Seminar- Flow-through Battery Electrodes for Grid-Scale Energy Storage
Electrochem Seminar- Flow-through Battery Electrodes for Grid-Scale Energy Storage
Abstract
In order to combat climate change by switching from fossil fuels to renewable sources of energy generation, there is a critical need for the development of new energy storage technologies. A robust network of energy storage facilities is essential for the stability of a grid powered primarily by wind and solar. Given the scale of the need for energy storage, it is necessary for the storage technology to be low-cost, safe, and recyclable at the end of its life. At Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, we have developed a technology capable of achieving these goals. Our system is a novel flow-battery that uses a combination of strategies to address each of the above criteria. We use an aqueous (non-flammable) electrolyte and earth-abundant materials to keep projected chemical, manufacturing, and operation costs relatively low and to reduce safety concerns. Our newly developed flow-through electrode design further reduces projected manufacturing and operation costs and simplifies material recovery/recycling. Based on our prototype, the chemical cost of storage is projected to be $59/kWh compared with $66/kWh and $154/kWh for lithium ion and vanadium redox flow batteries respectively. As energy storage facilities become larger and larger, these savings from low up-front costs and efficient recycling will become increasingly important for keeping the cost of renewable energy storage affordable.
Speaker
Daniel Collins-WildmanDaniel Collins-Wildman is a postdoctoral scholar in the Battaglia group. He has a background in inorganic chemistry, catalysis, and battery engineering. He is broadly interested in both applied projects that work to address climate change and the fundamental scientific breakthroughs that make this work possible. Daniel completed his B.A. in Chemistry from Macalester College and went on to receive an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Stony Brook University. His first exposure to battery chemistry was at The City College of New York (CCNY) where he designed anode materials for zinc manganese secondary cells. Daniel received a PhD from Emory University in Chemistry where he studied both catalysts for chemical warfare agent decontamination and photoelectrochemical water splitting. His postdoctoral work at LBNL has brought him back to the field of batteries working on developing a low-cost grid-scale energy storage battery. This involves the design and assembly of anode and cathode materials in a novel battery architecture along with electrochemical performance testing.