Ten times cheaper than a lithium-ion battery
The start-up Form Energy has developed an iron-air battery in recent years, which is now to be used on a large scale. According to the manufacturer, the production costs are ten times cheaper than lithium-ion batteries.
Efficient energy storage is more in demand than ever. Batteries are now used almost everywhere. Be it in electric vehicles, mobile devices or for storing excess energy from the power grid.
It is therefore no wonder that scientists around the world are researching new alternatives to the classic lithium-ion battery. Because these are simply not suitable for all purposes. The start-up Form Energy has also dedicated itself to this research.
The company emerged from the renowned Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and has been developing an iron-air battery for some time. In order to manufacture this technology on a large scale, a factory on a 223,000-square-foot lot in West Virginia develop.
Iron-air battery provides efficient storage for days
But how does the iron-air battery compare to conventional lithium-ion batteries? Pretty good! At least according to Form Energy’s research. As early as 2021, the start-up presented a chemical mixture that can efficiently store energy for up to 100 hours.
And at a price that is just a tenth of that of conventional batteries. In the past year, consideration was then given to the extent to which the technology could be scaled.
The results are now set to take effect in West Virginia. Also on board is CEO Mateo Jaramillo, a former Tesla Energy employee. There he gained seven years of experience in storing energy.
Iron-air battery: New approach for sustainable grid expansion
Ultimately, however, the new approach to energy storage was created at MIT. This takes advantage of a reverse corrosion process based on iron. The reason is relatively simple. Because iron is available in large quantities and as a result costs comparatively little.
According to official figures, a kilowatt hour can be stored for about 20 US dollars, significantly less than the 200 US dollars for lithium-ion batteries.
Anyone who now thinks that there will be a revolution in electromobility is wrong. Because the batteries are significantly heavier and are therefore not suitable for installation in vehicles. Also, it takes a long time to charge an iron-air battery. But the new approach is an ideal alternative for storing excess energy in the power grid.
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