Redox Flow Batteries for large scale energy storage

The expected expansion of renewable energy sources calls for large and efficient energy storage systems. Electrochemical storage systems are seen as a solution of choice in most cases, since they present unique features of localization flexibility, efficiency, and scalability. Among them Redox Flow Batteries (RFBs) exhibit very high potential for several reasons, including power/energy independent sizing, high efficiency, room temperature operation and extremely long round-trip cycle life. In RFB the chemically active species are metal ion couples. Among them the most developed are the all-vanadium based RFBs (VRB), but other research programs are underway in many countries. They aim at major improvements which can lead to more compact energy storage systems, capable of taking the technology to a real breakthrough in stationary grid-connected applications, but which can prove suitable for automotive applications.