06 Apr '15 18:21>6 edits
I presume it would generally have a lower energy density than lithium-based batteries but it is safer than lithium-based batteries because aluminum is much less reactive than lithium and doesn't readily burst into flames if the metal is exposed to air/moisture:
http://phys.org/news/2015-04-ultra-fast-aluminum-battery-safe-alternative.html
But what has really got my attention is where it says:
"..In addition to small electronic devices, aluminum batteries could be used to store renewable energy on the electrical grid, Dai said.
"The grid needs a battery with a long cycle life that can rapidly store and release energy," he explained. "Our latest unpublished data suggest that an aluminum battery can be recharged tens of thousands of times. It's hard to imagine building a huge lithium-ion battery for grid storage."
..."
For stationary off-the-grid energy storage like this, the energy density isn't usually a big issue like it often is for mobile storage.
I wonder if this could be the stationary off-the-grid energy storage for the future?
I guess that at least in part depends on the energy efficiency of its charge-discharge cycle but, frustratingly, the link gives no clues or mention of that energy efficiency. If the energy that is wasted can be made to be very small, say just 2% of the energy going in and out of storage, we may decide we can live with that. But if the energy wasted is going to be very large, say 40%, I guess that would be considered unacceptable and we would use a more energy efficient method to store off-the-grid even if the set-up costs are much more expensive (possibly use superconductor ring storage that stores the energy as magnetic energy )
http://phys.org/news/2015-04-ultra-fast-aluminum-battery-safe-alternative.html
But what has really got my attention is where it says:
"..In addition to small electronic devices, aluminum batteries could be used to store renewable energy on the electrical grid, Dai said.
"The grid needs a battery with a long cycle life that can rapidly store and release energy," he explained. "Our latest unpublished data suggest that an aluminum battery can be recharged tens of thousands of times. It's hard to imagine building a huge lithium-ion battery for grid storage."
..."
For stationary off-the-grid energy storage like this, the energy density isn't usually a big issue like it often is for mobile storage.
I wonder if this could be the stationary off-the-grid energy storage for the future?
I guess that at least in part depends on the energy efficiency of its charge-discharge cycle but, frustratingly, the link gives no clues or mention of that energy efficiency. If the energy that is wasted can be made to be very small, say just 2% of the energy going in and out of storage, we may decide we can live with that. But if the energy wasted is going to be very large, say 40%, I guess that would be considered unacceptable and we would use a more energy efficient method to store off-the-grid even if the set-up costs are much more expensive (possibly use superconductor ring storage that stores the energy as magnetic energy )