Research project: Pletcher: Batteries for large scale energy storage
Energy storage is an essential component of an electricity economy based on renewable energy; the possibilities for energy generation do not match consumer demand.
Currently Active: Yes
Project Overview
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Technology based on flow batteries is one potential solution to such energy storage because they have a very high energy efficiency. In Southampton, the programme centres on the soluble lead flow battery, Click on the image to see the electrode reactions.
And the electrolyte is methanesulfonic acid. Compared to other flow batteries, the advantage is that a separator is unnecessary and there is only one electrolyte flow. The electrode reactions are possible at high rates. The challenge is now to control the deposition of the lead and lead dioxide at all the rates and in all the conditions met in an operating energy storage system.
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During the dti funded programme, 10 cm x 10 cm have been cycled > 100 times without loss in energy efficiency and work is moving towards larger and bipolar cell stacks.
Related research groups
Publications
Publications associated with this project from The University of Southampton's electronic library (e-prints):
Staff
Members of staff associated with this project:
Professor Derek Pletcher
Emeritus Professor