Large-scale energy storage. Investigating improvements of redox flow batteries

Abstract

With fossil fuels facing depletion, research into the use of alternative fuel and energy sources has steadily increased. With the abundance of solar radiation available, especially in South Africa, solar energy could be utilised to provide a cleaner and more sustainable energy source. One problem however lies with the intermittent nature of the solar energy source, coupled with a mismatch between generation and use. Redox flow batteries provide a means to bridge the time lag between the availability of renewable energy and the time when it is needed, and thus provide energy on demand. This paper highlights the research done at the CSIR concerning redox flow battery technology. Various redox couples were investigated in a test cell, and it was shown that a redox battery with higher energy densities could be prepared. Problems during the operation of the test cell limited the results presented here. However, the scoping studies undertaken provide a basis for further investigations into large-scale storage devices