LIFE ZAESS will demonstrate an innovative zinc-air energy storage technology that can address the needs of intermittent renewable energy.
This innovative zinc/air flow battery combines the advantages of metal-air batteries and flow batteries. It offers: increased rechargeability and life span; less energy lost in the storage process; increased total system capacity, making it suitable for grid-scale renewable energy storage; and reduced production costs, because inexpensive and abundant materials are used.
The pilot plant will demonstrate the suitability of the zinc-air flow battery technology for grid scale energy storage
From an economic point of view, a conceptual engineering study for a MW (megawatt) scale plant is expected to yield capital costs between 2 000 and 3 000 €/kilowatt. This is a commonly accepted cost target for grid-scale energy storage systems in the short to medium term.
A full environmental impact assessment covering the entire life cycle of MW-scale energy storage plants based on zinc-air technology, including detailed environmental and carbon footprint analyses.A complete transformation of all sectors of the economy is required to mitigate climate change and to limit global warming to the internationally agreed target of 2ºC above pre-industrial levels by 2050.
