New Zinc-Air Battery Solves Big US Energy Storage Problem - CleanTechnica

The article from CleanTechnica addresses the significant energy storage challenge facing the United States, emphasizing that while energy storage technologies exist, their deployment and cost remain critical issues. Conventional lithium-ion batteries, though expensive, have seen dramatic cost reductions over the past decades due to technological improvements and economies of scale, particularly with lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) chemistry. These batteries have become the fastest-improving clean energy technology, supporting the increasing integration of renewable energy sources by providing utility-scale storage typically lasting around four hours. However, the evolving energy grid demands longer-duration storage solutions that are more cost-effective, safer, and environmentally friendly. In response to these needs, zinc-air batteries have emerged as a promising alternative. Zinc is abundant, inexpensive, and has a long history in energy storage, but scaling it up for rechargeable, long-duration applications has been challenging. Recent advances in zinc-air technology, which has been under research for over a decade, are beginning to translate into commercial viability. Zinc-air batteries