Swiss energy storage system start-up Innolith has unveiled an innovative, multi-purpose battery concept that promises ten-fold the longevity of current lithium-ion (Li-ion) technologies at around one-third the cost-per-cycle.
The design from the Basel-based company, which has its main R&D centre in Bruchsal, Germany, uses an inorganic – rather than a conventional organic – electrolyte, which “radically” improves the durability of the battery and greatly reduces fire-risk linked to overheating.
“Organic Li-ion batteries have limited life times of between a few hundred and low thousands of charge-discharge cycles. This is largely due to changes in the cell chemistry resulting from degradation of the organic electrolyte, resulting in loss of capacity and increase in resistance,” Innolith’s board chariman, Alan Greenshields, told Recharge.
“The Innolith inorganic electrolyte has almost no build up in resistance and a far longer lifecycle; in audited tests it has been proven to deliver over 50,000 cycles.”
The technology, which unlike Li-ion concepts is “fundamentally non-flammable”, is seen as applicable to grid stabilisation, EVs and off-grid emerging markets.
“The world has adapted Li-ion battery technology, which was originally developed for consumer electronic devices, for large grid-scale battery applications. But today’s Li-ion batteries are limited in how many recharge cycles they can achieve and have an inherent risk of fire or explosion,” noted Greenshields.
A grid-connected prototype of the Innolith GridBank technology has already been road-tested on the PJM network in the eastern US, where it provided frequency regulation services. The pilot, installed in Hagerstown, Maryland, in late 2017, achieved class-best ratings in a competitive scoring system, according to the company.
Innolith’s 1MWh/2MW system has been calculated as capable of an energy throughput of 60GWh over its lifetime.
Manufacture of Innolith batteries is slated to start with factory tests in 2019 and volume production the year after. Production line automation will be undertaken by specialist partners selected by Innolith.
“Battery manufacture is a mature industry and so cell assembly should be carried out by manufacturing experts who can bring their skills and experience to bear to deliver high quality and low costs,” said Greenshields. “Innolith will work with industry leaders to achieve this while focusing its core R&D, product design and specialty chemical skills.“
Innolith CEO Sergey Buchin added that its researchers are currently working on the next generation inorganic batteries that “promise to deliver substantial gains in performance”.
