Energy Storage Innovations
Energy storage is a crucial component needed to enable the effective integration of renewable energy and to unlock the benefits of a clean, local, resilient energy supply. ICL is dedicated to developing advanced bromine-based technologies that have the potential of becoming a new force for energy storage. ICL is partnering with a range of industry players from research institutions to developers of energy storage applications to advance innovation in the energy storage market. \
Transitioning to renewable energy is an important challenge for society. Critical components in harnessing renewable energy (from the wind or the sun) include capturing and storing the energy so that it can be used at a later time and to ensure a continuous supply. Storing energy as it is generated ensures that power is available even when the energy isn’t being produced. As a result, energy storage has become one of the key challenges in transitioning to renewable energy.
The U.S. energy storage market grew 27% in 2017
At ICL, we have developed special chemical blends, required to create zinc bromine ‘flow batteries’, which are ideally suited for storing large amounts of energy. These batteries are contributing to the efforts of solving the energy storage challenge. Due to bromine’s high abundance and fast kinetics, bromine-based batteries offer superior performance and a cost-effective solution, positioning this technology as a preferred method of energy storage. For more information, visit our dedicated Energy Storage site.
ICL’s innovative bromine-based technology for energy storage
By creating these special chemical blends and recycling these chemicals, we assure that this technology is fully sustainable, also in its post-use phase. Our innovative ‘energy storage’ services provide a complete chemical support for producers of zinc-bromine ‘flow batteries’. To read a Safety Review of Bromine Based Electrolytes for Energy Storage Applications, click here.
The Flow Battery Solution
A flow battery is an electrical storage device that is a cross between a conventional battery and a fuel cell. Liquid electrolyte of metallic salts is pumped through a core that consists of positive and negative electrodes, which are separated by a membrane. The ion exchange that occurs between the cathode and anode generates electricity.
One of the main advantages of flow batteries is that energy is stored as a liquid in separate tanks. The decoupling of energy and power enables high application versatility and flexible system design according to consumer needs.
Bromine-based battery Technology in the Netherlands
Energy Storage of Tidal Energy
ICL-IP Terneuzen is participating in a trial to store energy from tides. There is a growing market for tidal and wave energy, which is a developing source of renewable energy. The TTC Tidal Technology Center Grevelingendam (TTC-GD) is a facility where suppliers can test, certify, validate and demonstrate their innovative systems in a live tidal maritime environment. In the second phase, TTC-GD will be equipped to demonstrate the potential of power storage systems for stable and reliable on-demand output strategies.
The trial is part of a European MIDAS (marine energy integrated with smart distribution and storage) project. It is a cooperation between the province of Zeeland, Enduris, ICL-IP Terneuzen, the HZ University of Applied Sciences and TTC working together with partners from France, Ireland and Great Britain.
