California Energy Commission Gives $2.1 Million To Eos Energy Storage For Demonstration Of AC-Integrated Zinc Hybrid-Cathode Battery System

Eos Energy Storage was recently awarded $2.1 million by the California Energy Commission (CEC) to support the demonstration of the company’s AC-integrated zinc hybrid-cathode battery system (Zynth), according to recent reports.

For a bit of background — the Znyth battery system/technology is based on the use of a novel zinc-hybrid cathode, along with a “safe” aqueous electrolyte, to create energy storage with relatively low costs and a long working life.

The system has reportedly been in development for over a decade now — and is based on the use of “21 patents and patent applications with more than 600 claims covering cell configuration and architecture; cathode design and materials; electrolyte and electrolyte additives; battery management systems; and low-cost manufacturing processes,” according to Green Car Congress.

Here’s more on that (on overview of the technology):

• Titanium current collector with proprietary ceramic coating is permanently conductive, non-corrosive, and self-healing.
• Aqueous, near neutral pH electrolyte is non-dendritic and does not absorb CO2, eliminating carbonate clogging issues.
• Proprietary electrolyte additives and buffering agents enhance zinc solubility and plating to improve energy density and run-time.
• Hybridization of cathode chemistries and electro-active catalysts improves power density and roundtrip efficiency.
• Highly standardized manufacturing processes such as metal stamping and injection molding to keep manufacturing costs low.

On that note, Eos recently announced that commercial deliveries of its Aurora energy storage systems would be beginning in 2016. Pricing for these megawatt-scale systems will reportedly be around $160/kWh (kilowatt-hour). The Aurora systems make use of the Zynth technology discussed above.

We’ve been covering Eos for years. Check out more CleanTechnica coverage of Eos Energy Storage.

Image Credit: Eos Energy Storage