Issue 21
Frontiers of Sustainable Energy Integration Deck. Callum Peverell
explores breakthrough projects within sustainable energy.
G
lobal perception of the energy industry is changing. Oil prices and UK vehicle emissions have decreased throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and appetite for a sustainable energy network is growing. The United Kingdom faces an ambitious target of achieving net zero emissions by 2050, a feat which will require the widespread integration of multiple sustainable energy sources. Here we will explore some of the current focal points and breakthrough projects within the sustainable energy community.
Vanadium Flow Batteries A boom in lithium ion cell demand for grid energy storage, vehicular use, and use in appliances from smartphones to drones, has led to scepticism of the longevity of widespread battery cell integration. Monopolies on mining operations, specifically that of cobalt (a typical lithium ion cell cathode component) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and their links to poor conditioning and human rights violations, has caused this scepticism to grow, bringing forth the question of whether continued operation in this way is ‘sustainable’. One option to keep up with the rising focus on energy storage for renewable sources is the Vanadium Flow Battery (VFB). Some investors and star-
tainable technologies. Will VFBs ultimately be doomed to the same fate as lithium ion batteries? Will an increase in mining lead to dwindling levels of precious metals which are economically viable materials for electrodes and cells? Can the construction and continued operation of these batteries be maintained in a sustainable way? “Links to poor conditioning and Only time and inhuman rights violations, has caused dustry investment this scepticism to grow, bringing forth will shed light on these doubts. the question of whether continued In October 2020, UK Prime operation in this way is 'sustainable'.” Minister Boris electrolyte, which is used as an energy Johnson pledged that offshore wind storage carrier, is reduced at the anode farms would be able to supply enough (negative half-cell) and oxidised at the electricity to power every home in the cathode (positive half-cell), driving a United Kingdom by 2030, but just how transfer of electrical energy to chemical realistic is this target? energy. Wind Energy A startup company has secured $7 million in funding for their VFB technology advancements. VoltStorage, a Wind power generates electricity causGermany-based company, is proposing ing the blades of a turbine to rotate, to use these VFBs at scale in residential thereby converting kinetic energy to homes, offering an energy storage mechanical energy. This rotation furmechanism to a local photovoltaic sol- ther turns an internal shaft to increase ar system. These batteries can offer a the speed of rotation before spinning a constant power output of 1.5 kW, at- generator and producing electricity, taining more than 10,000 charge cycles which can then be supplied to the grid. without any capacity loss, with an averBut what if there is no wind? Fortuage reduction of 80 kg CO2 equivalent nately, wind power does not require per year when combined with unsus- constant operation to supply electritup companies are calling for the integration of VFBs into more residential and commercial applications. VFBs typically operate through two separate tanks containing a vanadium-based electrolyte, one at a positive charge state and one at a negative, fed by closed circuits into a battery stack. If the electrical energy is being stored, the
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