A new type of battery that could change the way electricity is stored on the grid is being developed by a team of Harvard scientists and engineers. The new battery technology will make renewable energy sources more economical and reliable than current technology.
Funding was received from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E) to develop a grid-scale battery and both parties will work together to advance battery technology. The main obstacle when using renewable energy sources is the inconsistency of wind or sunshine and the variable demand of electricity. To solve this obstacle, a cost-effective way to store large amounts electrical energy is required. This new flow battery is metal-free and relies on electrochemistry of quinones, which are small, organic and naturally plentiful molecules and similar to the molecules that plants and animals use to store energy.
