In the Koplopers series, NU.nl visits projects this summer that give us a glimpse into the sustainable future. This week: a battery that stores electricity in water and kitchen salt could offer the stalled power grid lighting.
Between the meadows, industry and the campus of TU Delft lies the peaceful site of Knowledge Institute Deltares.
In the middle of the pavilion full of wild flowers, artworks and ponds with water lilies is a white container with four large black tanks. Two of 5 and two of 10 cubic meters. Together they form the Aquabattery, which ‘stays’ at Deltares during its development phase.
The name already betrays it: the most important component of this battery is water. And salt, just like that jar that you have in your kitchen, says director Janneke Tjon Pian Gi. It is a so -called flow battery with which you store energy in a liquid.
She points to the hundreds of solar panels that sparkle on the sloping roof of the Deltares research building. The power that is generated with the panels and is not used immediately can be stored in this battery for ten hours.
More storage is more water
If the solar panels generate too much power, the battery uses the electricity to split the salty water into an acid and a base. That goes through a special reactor. When power is needed again, the particles are merged together again and energy is created.
Nu.nl takes a look at the white container that contains the battery. There is a technical and complex system in which the different filters, pumps and reactors together make a humming sound. Unfortunately, splitting in the reactor via a membrane cannot be seen. Everything is automated and powered with electricity from the solar panels of Deltares.
This pilot can store a maximum of 5 kilowatts for ten hours, together good for 50 kilowatt hours. Increasing that storage capacity is simple. “If you want more storage, you add more salt water,” says Tjon Pian Gi.
Because the battery is still in the development phase, those numbers are theoretical for the time being. But the pilot is becoming increasingly serious. This spring, the battery won the prestigious sustainable innovation prize of the European Union, after she had already won an investment of 6 million last year.
The start-up, which started about ten years ago with an idea of a group of researchers and students, now employs twenty people. They are eager to put their battery on the market.
Battery can relieve stalled power grid
On that market there is a clear call for a technology that stores surplus electricity. The Dutch power grid cannot keep up with the rapid electrification of the energy system, which means that the problems accumulate and large traffic jams on the net arise. Moreover, electricity is also needed in periods that it is not windy and the sun does not shine.
And so quickly a way is needed to store large amounts of electricity for longer periods. Nevertheless, companies do not yet fully use Flow batteries. Why? They are simply not on the market yet. Lithium batteries are already being used, but they are more efficient for shorter storage, such as your telephone battery. Moreover, they are made from scarce raw materials from abroad.
According to Tjon Pian GI, hydrogen – you can also store electricity – is less efficient than a saltwater battery, because when converting to hydrogen and back to power energy is lost.
No white container in the back garden
Are there no disadvantages to the system? Boy Pian Gi has to think about it. “The energy density,” she says. In other words: the liquid tank and container take up more space than, for example, lithium batteries.
That makes their saltwater battery less suitable for households and more for industry, campuses or business parks. In the coming period they will further develop the battery technically and try to get the costs down.
The white container will therefore not appear so quickly in your back garden. But if it is up to Tjon Pian Gi, we will see the salt battery in our street scene much more often.
In The Series Pioneers , NU.nl Visits Projects This Summer That Give US A Glimpse Into The Sustainable Future. This week: A Battery That Stores Electricity in Water and Table Salt Could alleviate the congested power grid.
Between the Meadows, The Industry and the Campus of TU Delft Lies The Peaceful Area of Knowledge Institute Deltares.
In the middle of the pavilion full of wild flowers, works of art and ponds with water lilies stands a white container with four large black tanks. Two or 5 and Two or 10 Cubic meters. Together They Form The Aquabattery, which ‘Lodges’ at Deltares Duration its Development Phase.
The Name Already Reveals It: The Most Important Component of This Battery is water. And Salt, just like that jar you have in your Kitchen, says director Janneke Tjon Pian Gi. It is a so-called flow battery with which you store energy in a liquid.
She points to the hundreds of solar panels that sparkle on the sloping roof of the deltares research building. The electricity generated by the panels that is not used directing can be stored in this battery for ten hours.
More Storage is more water
If the solar panels generate too much power, the battery uses the electricity to split the salt water into an acid and a base. This is done via a special reactor. When Electricity is needed again, the partners are Joined Together Again and Energy is created.
Nu.nl takes a look inside the white container in which the battery is locationed. A Technical and Complex System Can Be Seen in which the Various Filters, Pumps and Reactors Together Make a Humming Sound. The splitting in the reactor via a membrane is unfortunate not visible. Everything is automated and powered by electricity from Deltares’ Solar Panels.
This pilot can store a maximum or 5 kilowatts for ten hours, together good for 50 kilowatt hours. Increasing that storage capacity is simple. “If you want more storage, you add more salt water,” Says Tjon Pian Gi.
Because the battery is still in the development phase, Those Numbers are provisionally theoretical. But the pilot is Becoming More and More Serious. This Spring, the Battery won the prestigious sustainable innovation award from the European Union, after already securing an investment of 6 million last year.
The start-up, which started about ten years ago with an Idea from a Group of Researchers and Students, Now Employed Twenty People. They are eager to bring their battery to market.
Battery Can Relieve CONGED POWER GRID
There is a clear call on that market for a technology that stores excess electricity. The Dutch Power Grid Cannot Currently Keep Up With The Rapid Electrification of the Energy System, Causing Problems To Pile Up And Large Queues to Form on the Grid. Moreover, Electricity is also needed in periods when it is not windy and the sun is not shining.
So there is a need for a way to store Large Amounts of Electricity for Longer Periods. Yet Companies Are Not Yet Fully Using Flow Batteries. Why? They are simply not yet on the market. Lithium batteries are already used, but they are more efficient for shorter storage, such as your phone battery. MoreOover, They are made from carce raw materials from Abroad.
Accordance to boy pian gi, hydrogen – in which you can also store electricity – Less efficient than a Salt water battery, because it is unloading to hydrogen and back to electricity.
No White Container In The Backyard
Are there no disadvantages to the system? Tjon Pian Gi Has to Think for A Moment. “The Energy Density,” She says. In other words: The Liquid Tank and container take up more space than, for example, lithium batteries.
That makes Their Salt Water Battery Less Suitable for Households and More For Industry, Campuses Or Business Parks. In The Coming Period, They Will Further Develop the Battery Technically and Try to Reduce Costs.
The white container Will Therefore Not Appear in Your Backyard So Quickly. But if it is up to tjon pian gi, we see the salt battery much more often in our streetscape.