Multi-day iron-air batteries reach commercialization… at one tenth of the cost of lithium

[Crtcl Rice Theory 2,432]

https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2021/07/23/multi-day-iron-air-batteries-reach-commercialization-at-one-tenth-of-the-cost-of-lithium/

 

 

Boston startup Form Energy developed technology to address this need, revealing recently the chemistry behind their iron-air batteries. The company said its iron-air batteries can deliver renewables-sourced electricity for 100 hours at system costs competitive with conventional power plants. At full-scale production, Form Energy said the modules would deliver electricity at tenth the cost of lithium-ion batteries.

 

The iron-air battery is composed of cells filled with thousands of iron pellets that are exposed to air and create rust. The oxygen is then removed, reverting the rust to iron. Controlling this process allows the battery to be charged and discharged..

 

The battery’s first project is a 1 MW installation with Minnesota-based utility Great River Energy, located near the American Iron Range. Form Energy said it expects to have a 300 MW, 500 module facility active at a Great River Energy power plant by 2023.

[TBoneTX 43,048]

But if the mines and factories pollute the environment, which they do, they all must be shut down.

[Dashinka 23,236]

Wow, so simple, just remove the oxygen from oxidized iron.  It is interesting that they did not detail what they are doing to achieve the reduction step.  

[Crtcl Rice Theory 2,432]

26 minutes ago, Dashinka said:

Wow, so simple, just remove the oxygen from oxidized iron.  It is interesting that they did not detail what they are doing to achieve the reduction step.  

These batteries have been under research for decades so there is a lot of material  out there if you are curious.

 

What this article is about is the commercialization to the point that a large storage facility is contracted to be built at a significantly lower cost than lithium. Presumably other applications are I'm the pipeline.

[Dashinka 23,236]

1 hour ago, Crtcl Rice Theory said:

These batteries have been under research for decades so there is a lot of material  out there if you are curious.

 

What this article is about is the commercialization to the point that a large storage facility is contracted to be built at a significantly lower cost than lithium. Presumably other applications are I'm the pipeline.

Yes, from what I can find, they are reducing the iron oxide with H2 which takes place at fairly high temperatures.  I would like to see a balance between the power production phase when the iron is oxidizing, and the reduction phase when power is being consumed.  

[TBoneTX 43,048]

16 hours ago, Dashinka said:

they are reducing the iron oxide with H2 which takes place at fairly high temperatures.  I would like to see a balance between the power production phase when the iron is oxidizing, and the reduction phase when power is being consumed.

English-only outside the scientific forums!  Reported!!!

[LIBrty4all 3,749]

On 7/26/2021 at 10:27 AM, Dashinka said:

Yes, from what I can find, they are reducing the iron oxide with H2 which takes place at fairly high temperatures.  I would like to see a balance between the power production phase when the iron is oxidizing, and the reduction phase when power is being consumed.  

Ever since the first automobile was invented, we have been told that EVs are coming, and will be more energy efficient and cleaner than ICE vehicles.  Yet here we are today, more than 100 years later and EVs are only 2% of the cars bought today.  The hurdles are still huge, but we have made some significant gains the past two years with batteries.  Still too darn expensive IMO.  I guess we will see if we as a nation can actually achieve only EVs by 2035 as some claim will happen.

[Dashinka 23,236]

37 minutes ago, LIBrty4all said:

Ever since the first automobile was invented, we have been told that EVs are coming, and will be more energy efficient and cleaner than ICE vehicles.  Yet here we are today, more than 100 years later and EVs are only 2% of the cars bought today.  The hurdles are still huge, but we have made some significant gains the past two years with batteries.  Still too darn expensive IMO.  I guess we will see if we as a nation can actually achieve only EVs by 2035 as some claim will happen.

I really believe there are markets and uses for EVs.  Take a place like South Korea, you really cannot drive more than 4-5 hours in any direction since it is essentially an island, so I can see EVs working there as long as the power is available.  I don't see EVs working well for those that like to drive across the US.  I know the wife and I drive around the US quite a bit, and I do not want to add hours to the drive every 200 miles.

 

Regardless, the iron air batteries are not really meant for EVs given the size necessary, and their weight. It appears they are more likely to be used as power storage for windmills and solar panels.

Edited July 27, 2021 by Dashinka

[Nature Boy 2.0 8,315]

2 hours ago, LIBrty4all said:

Ever since the first automobile was invented, we have been told that EVs are coming, and will be more energy efficient and cleaner than ICE vehicles.  Yet here we are today, more than 100 years later and EVs are only 2% of the cars bought today.  The hurdles are still huge, but we have made some significant gains the past two years with batteries.  Still too darn expensive IMO.  I guess we will see if we as a nation can actually achieve only EVs by 2035 as some claim will happen.

According to the smart people at Toyota USA 70% of our sales will be hybrids by 2031. The Sienna Van and Venza are currently hybrid only.

 

The industry is heading in that direction. As for EV only. May be a fad who knows. I myself prefer to have an ICE along with my battery. 

 

Is it the way to go our not. Who knowz, Just reporting the news.

 

I thought Tree hugging biden lovers like you like ev

[Nature Boy 2.0 8,315]

2 hours ago, Dashinka said:

I really believe there are markets and uses for EVs.  Take a place like South Korea, you really cannot drive more than 4-5 hours in any direction since it is essentially an island, so I can see EVs working there as long as the power is available.  I don't see EVs working well for those that like to drive across the US.  I know the wife and I drive around the US quite a bit, and I do not want to add hours to the drive every 200 miles.

 

Regardless, the iron air batteries are not really meant for EVs given the size necessary, and their weight. It appears they are more likely to be used as power storage for windmills and solar panels.

I wonder if there are recharging stations as numerous as gas stations we would feel different. 

 

Can roadside assist bring 5 gals of charge?

[Dashinka 23,236]

5 minutes ago, Nature Boy 2.0 said:

I wonder if there are recharging stations as numerous as gas stations we would feel different. 

 

Can roadside assist bring 5 gals of charge?

Still a matter of time vs energy.  Even the super fast DC chargers need 45-60 minutes to get 200-250 miles, where as I can get 500 miles in 5 minutes with gasoline.  Then if EVs gain a larger market share (which seems likely), you might have to wait for some time to actually start charging.  The other thing that many EV makers seem to forget is that not everyone lives in single family homes with attached garages, where do the people living in apartment complexes charge their vehicles overnight.  As I said, there is a market for EVs, but I am not sure they will take over the entire market.

[Boiler 43,429]

40 minutes to get 80%

 

Spacing of chargers seems the big issue, if you can drive 3 hours or so and then take a 40 minute break that seems doable. I think this will be the issue with Trucks. Drivers have to take a break and a lot of deliveries involve waiting a long time to unload.

 

Will need a big upgrade in electricity distribution.

[LIBrty4all 3,749]

6 hours ago, Nature Boy 2.0 said:

I wonder if there are recharging stations as numerous as gas stations we would feel different. 

 

Can roadside assist bring 5 gals of charge?

It's not just the location (though that IS critical too, of course).  The issue right now is that unless you have a local/favorite/cheap EV refill station nearby, some of the ones "on the road" are actually more expensive per mile driven than gasoline.

 

And while I might like Biden, and love to stroke his leg hair and hug trees, I realize that except in bigger cities, the EV has a very uphill struggle.  Too expensive to buy, too expensive to refill, and still uses mostly coal or gas to generate those needed refills currently.

 

I do find the acceleration, maintenance, and quietness of EVs to be very nice.  And Tesla (not sure about Toyota nor Chevy or any other EV makers) has a great product when it comes to cameras, self-driving, trip planning (tells you when and where to stop along your route to juice up).  Still a too tad expensive, but they are coming down.  Maybe we will get there in our lifetimes; for sure, this climate crisis that is destroying the planet is creating a big push for them.

[Boiler 43,429]

EV's by all the numbers I have seen halve emissions so they are not an answer to zero emissions.

[TBoneTX 43,048]

7 hours ago, Dashinka said:

The other thing that many EV makers seem to forget is that not everyone lives in single family homes with attached garages, where do the people living in apartment complexes charge their vehicles overnight.

Idealism rarely incorporates the fact that every decision has consequences.