NAATBatt Zinc Battery Technology Workshop IV

Sunergy was invited to present at the Zinc Battery Technology IV Workshop organized by NAATBATT Zinc Battery technology workshop on the 16th of December 2021.

The workshop aims highlight the progress being made in producing rechargeable zinc-based batteries. The workshop presented the rechargeable zinc-based batteries being sold in the market today, their potential uses, and new zinc-based battery technologies that may be coming to the market soon. Speakers outlined the potential advantages of zinc-based batteries–low cost, non-toxicity, recycle ability, and the potential for greater energy storage–over lithium and lead-based battery technologies.

The workshop consisted of four segments of 75-minutes each. Sunergy presented in Session 1 (Case Studies in the Commercial use of Zinc battery Technology). Along with representants of NSWC Crane, Aesir Technologies and ZincFive, the three North American key-players in different zinc-based battery technologies, we talked about the products we develop and sell, where those products are finding accpetance in the marketplace, and what we believe the future for zinc-based battery technologies may hold.

To power the electrification revolution, lithium-ion battery manufacturers will need unrestricted access to lithium, nickel and cobalt at consistent prices. It is not clear they will get it. The supply chain for zinc-based battery technologies may be more secure and reliable. Session 2 (Zinc Battery Technology as an Answer to Supply Chain Security) was dedicated to examine the material needs of zinc-based batteries and the markets for those materials.

Session 3 (Pushing the Commercial Enveloppe : New Developments in Zinc-Based Battery Technology) addressed the new formulas and chemical structures to address historic problems in zinc battery technologies. The panel highlighted some of those companies and the progress that they are making.

With the vast majority of scientific resources focused on lithium-ion technology, we may only be scratching the surface of the zinc atom’s potential for energy storage. The scientists in Session 4 (Pushing the Scientific Envelope: Whats Next in Zinc Battery Technology?) discussed what may lie beyond current zinc-based battery technology and presented on new progress in zinc battery technology coming out of the laboratories.