US startup develops world's first rechargeable alkaline battery
The creation of alkaline batteries has the potential to become almost entirely self-sufficient thanks to a new rechargeable battery supplied to an EverZinc plant in Eijsden, Netherlands, by US startup Urban Electric Power (UEP).
The 20kWh battery, which derives its power from the reaction between zinc and manganese dioxide, is the company's first foray into Europe, with the installation being completed by Belgian energy firm Enersol.
Read more: World has 14 million EVs' worth of lithium, nickel in 2023, claims study
EverZinc supplied the supply of zinc metal for the battery, which was developed by the US company. The battery is set to be paired with a 6kW solar energy system to store excess power, to be discharged when needed.
This project is the first of several planned in a partnership between the two firms, with the metals supplier hoping to reduce carbon emissions "across its portfolio" by utilising solar power and energy storage.
“This is our first European installation, and one of several high-profile installations we’ll be announcing in the coming months,” said Sanjoy Banerjee, Urban Electric Power's founder.
“Supporting solar power is one of many applications for which our products are cleaner, safer, and more affordable than other available technologies.”
UEP has been selected as a finalist in Amazon Web Services' Clean Energy Accelerator 2.0 programme - one of only 12 companies to make the cut.
It made the cut due to its apparently low-cost energy storage and its recharging batteries, claiming it will be able to develop rechargeable alkaline batteries at "one-third the cost" of lithium batteries by 2030.
There are concerns a surge in lithium demand could lead to shortages later in the decade, driven by the energy transition, electrification and the rise in popularity of consumer electronics.
In addition, the ongoing semiconductor shortage, which has throttled the supply of electronic products and caused production pitfalls for automakers looking to shift to EVs, is causing suppliers to rethink the use of lithium in the creation of chips.
Some chip developers are looking at altering chemical formulae to use less lithium. Others, such as UEP, are cutting it out entirely. Unless metals and battery recycling sees significant investment, its likely demand may never be met by supply.
Zinc may prove a viable alternative for certain sectors, such as energy.
EverZinc CEO Vincent Dujardin said that the installation of a battery energy storage system at the Eijsden plant shows his company's commitment to "accelerate the adoption of zinc-based technologies."
"Furthermore, this project is fully aligned with our vision to reduce the carbon footprint of the zinc materials produced in our premises in the coming years," he added.
Read more: Johnson Matthey and EMR join forces for UK battery recycling
Enersol CEO Samuel Bragard claims that Zinc offers "the most sustainable and performant energy storage" and that zinc batteries could offer a decent alternative to the standard lithium-ion batteries.
He stated he was excited to continue working with the two partners on these "first-of-its-kind" projects.
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