Leslie Massey
Australia's Redflow has introduced its high-voltage energy storage product for grid-scale applications, the Energy Pod Z. The Energy Pod Z is made up of ZBM2 batteries, which are the smallest commercially available flow batteries in the world. The company intends to use the ZBM2.5 for the Energy Pod Z initially, and then the Gen3 in the future. The Energy Pod Z is expected to be deployed in California in September 2021.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Company | Australia's Redflow |
| Product | Energy Pod Z |
| Battery Type | ZBM2.5 |
| Battery Composition | Zinc-bromine flow batteries |
| Battery Capacity | 160 kilowatt-hours |
| Power Output | 50 kilowatts |
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What You'll Learn
Redflow's Energy Pod Z
Redflow Limited, an Australian energy storage company, has developed the Energy Pod Z, a high-voltage energy storage product for grid-scale applications. Each Energy Pod Z module integrates 16 Redflow batteries with world-leading power conversion technology and can deliver high-voltage energy, scaling as large as required. The Energy Pod Z architecture has no limit on the number of modules that can be deployed, enabling the architecture to support much larger energy storage sites.
The Energy Pod Z is designed to provide two-megawatt hours (2MWh) of energy storage. The first deployment of the Energy Pod Z was for a two-megawatt-hour energy storage system at a major US bioenergy facility. The facility, Anaergia Rialto Bioenergy Facility in southern California, will be North America's largest organic waste digester facility, converting 700 tonnes of organic waste and 300 tonnes of biosolids into biogas daily. The agreement represents Redflow's largest single sale and deployment of batteries globally.
The Energy Pod Z has been described as the start of Redflow's entry into the grid-scale energy market. The collaboration with TRUMPF Hüttinger has improved the company's access to the North American market and large grid-scale deployments. The power conversion technology integrated with Redflow's heat-tolerant batteries creates a powerful product set to compete in the emerging long-duration energy storage market.
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High-voltage energy storage
Australia's Redflow has introduced a high-voltage energy storage product for grid-scale applications, the Energy Pod Z. The Energy Pod Z is made up of ZBM2 batteries, which are the smallest commercially available flow batteries in the world. They also form the basis of ZCell, Redflow's home battery product.
The Energy Pod Z represents the start of and proof point for Redflow to both enter and operate in the grid-scale energy market. In March 2021, Redflow announced a deal to supply a 2 MWh energy storage system made up of 192 zinc-bromine flow batteries to Anaergia, Inc.'s Rialto Bioenergy Facility in San Bernardino County, California. The facility will be North America's largest organic waste digester facility, converting 700 tonnes of organic waste and 300 tonnes of biosolids into biogas daily. Redflow's zinc-bromine flow batteries are ideal for this application because they thrive in hot and challenging conditions.
In the past, Redflow has faced challenges in getting above "30,40,50" batteries in one installation at the normal 48 volts. However, with the Energy Pod Z's advanced high-voltage system, the company has overcome these limitations. Each Energy Pod Z box provides 160 kilowatt-hours and can push and pull energy at 50 kilowatts.
The Hornsdale Power Reserve in South Australia, also known as the "Tesla Big Battery," is another example of high-voltage energy storage. It is a 150 MW (194 MWh) grid-connected energy storage system owned by Neoen and co-located with the Hornsdale Wind Farm. The original installation in 2017 was the largest lithium-ion battery in the world at 129 MWh and 100 MW. It was expanded in 2020 to 194 MWh at 150 MW, making it the largest battery in Australia with grid-forming abilities as of 2024.
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Zinc-bromine flow batteries
The ZBRFB system involves storing a solution of zinc bromide in two tanks. When the battery is charged or discharged, the solutions (electrolytes) are pumped through a reactor stack from one tank to the other. One tank is used for positive electrode reactions, while the other is for negative electrode reactions. The battery stack is made of carbon-filled plastic bipolar plates and enclosed in a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) container.
Zinc-bromine flow battery technology has been explored by companies such as Primus Power, RedFlow Limited, and EnSync. In 2023, EOS Energy Enterprises announced its Eos Z3 battery, claiming an order backlog of 347MWh and total binding orders of 2.2GWh. Additionally, a Columbia University research team received funding from the Energy Department to investigate zinc bromine flow battery technology, and the US Department of Energy has shown interest in this technology for long-duration energy storage.
While the adoption of zinc-bromine flow batteries has faced some challenges, they continue to be a subject of interest and development, particularly for stationary energy storage applications and in the context of renewable energy integration and energy security.
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Grid-scale energy market
Australia's battery storage market experienced a record-breaking year in 2023, with 2,468MWh of energy storage deployed across utility-scale, residential, and commercial and industrial (C&I) segments. Grid-scale projects (>10MWh) dominated the market, contributing 1,410MWh. This momentum is expected to continue, with a predicted 4GWh of utility-scale additions in 2024.
The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) reported that utility-scale batteries earned $165.4 million from arbitrage in 2024, more than triple the previous year. This, coupled with supportive government policies, has spurred a significant increase in BESS deployment. The Albanese Labor federal government's Capacity Investment Scheme (CIS) initiative aims to procure 32GW of firmed renewable capacity, including storage, for AEMO's wholesale electricity markets.
The CIS has already supported at least 3.9 GW of battery storage capacity across the country, with four battery storage projects in Western Australia collectively exceeding 650MW in capacity. The federal government has also funded over 420 community battery projects through the Community Batteries Fund, enabling local neighbourhoods to benefit from shared energy storage.
Grid-scale battery storage is playing an increasingly critical role in Australia's transition to renewable energy. Batteries can stabilize the grid, providing inertia and frequency regulation, peak shaving, and demand response services. They can also power remote communities through microgrids and support the integration of wind and solar energy, compensating for their variability.
However, challenges remain. Grid batteries are typically designed for two to eight hours of electricity dispatch, while the grid requires storage for days, weeks, and even months. Additionally, grid-scale storage demands substantial upfront investments with long payback periods, and the industry faces raw material price increases due to growing competition for lithium-ion batteries.
Despite these challenges, Australia is on the cusp of a big battery boom, with predictions of reaching 18 GW of installed energy storage capacity by 2035, an eight-fold increase from 2024. This growth is driven by market volatility, supportive policies, and the expected decline of coal plants.
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Gen3 battery production
The GEN3 Silicon-Anode battery is a cutting-edge innovation in the battery technology space. It boasts a 40% improvement in overall capacity compared to commercially available graphite-based batteries, as well as a 26% improvement over GEN1 batteries and a 15% improvement over GEN2 batteries. This is achieved through the use of Novacium GEN3 silicon-based materials, which integrate seamlessly into existing manufacturing processes, allowing manufacturers to adopt these advancements without incurring significant retooling costs.
GEN3 batteries are designed to meet the demanding requirements of high-performance applications, such as the Gen3 Formula E car, where they will be introduced for the 2022-23 season. The batteries will deliver a power boost to 350kW, equivalent to 450bhp, showcasing their ability to provide enhanced energy density. Additionally, the GEN3 batteries will offer improved durability, thermal efficiency, and overall reliability, making them well-suited for the competitive environment of Formula E racing.
The development of GEN3 batteries is led by HPQ Silicon Inc., a technology company specializing in the green engineering of silica and silicon-based materials. Their affiliate, NOVACIUM SAS, based in France, plays a pivotal role in creating the GEN3 silicon-anode material. The collaboration between these entities drives advancements in battery technology, with a focus on both performance and sustainability.
The GEN3 battery production process involves rigorous testing to ensure the batteries' longevity and durability. Charge-discharge tests, simulating real-world usage, have demonstrated the GEN3 batteries' minimal degradation over 100 cycles. This robustness positions GEN3 batteries as a reliable and long-lasting energy solution, contributing to their appeal for electric vehicle applications and beyond.
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Frequently asked questions
The Redflow Energy Pod Z is a high-voltage energy storage product for grid-scale applications.
The Energy Pod Z is used for storing energy. It is comprised of ZBM2 batteries, which are the world's smallest commercially available flow battery.
The Energy Pod Z is for anyone looking to store energy on a grid-scale. It is particularly well-suited for use in California, due to the state's high temperatures.
