German energy company EWE has announced that progress has been made in the construction of the world's largest flow battery using underground salt caverns in northwest Germany. A polymer developed by the researchers has passed preliminary tests.

The power storage system of the flow battery generally includes two liquid storage tanks containing two different electrolytes. The connection between them is the power generation zone where the two electrolytes will be ion exchanged across a thin film to achieve electrical energy storage and release. The larger the tank, the more stored energy.

EWE, in cooperation with the University of Yenik, Germany, plans to use the underground salt cave of the small town of Jem Gum in the northwest of Germany as a tank. These salt caverns are mine holes left after salt mining. They are huge in volume and sealed well. They can be used as sealed storage. EWE currently carries out natural gas storage operations in the eight underground salt caves in Yemgum. According to reports, the storage capacity of two medium-sized salt caverns is enough to supply electricity to big cities such as Berlin for one hour, which means that it will be the world's largest battery.

However, the project also faces some technical problems. For example, the common electrolyte in a flow battery is made by dissolving metal vanadium in sulfuric acid, and this solution is relatively polluted by the environment. EWE company recently held a press conference in Berlin, said that researchers from the University of Yenhave successfully developed a polymer that can be dissolved in salt water as an electrolyte and can meet environmental protection requirements. At present, the polymer has passed A preliminary test.

The project leader Ralph Rieckberg said that this shows that the project has taken a big step toward the goal of creating the world's largest battery, but still needs more tests. It is expected that the salt battery system will be put into operation by the end of 2023. run.

Germany is currently implementing a strategy for energy transformation. It plans to make 80% of renewable energy generation by 2050. The ultimate goal is to replace traditional energy sources with renewable energy. However, one problem with wind energy, solar energy and other renewable energy sources is that the power generation under different weather conditions is unstable, and huge batteries can therefore play a regulatory role. (Zhang Yirong)

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