Govind Tekale
MIT researchers created a non-flammable battery using water-based electrolytes and manganese oxide, potentially solving major industrial storage challenges - but how does it stack up against lithium-ion?
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The new battery system packs 1.7 megawatt hours into a 20-foot container and offers discharge durations from 2 to 110 hours, with fast-charging capability in just four hours.
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Chemical plants and steel manufacturers, which previously avoided lithium batteries due to fire risks, could finally embrace on-site energy storage with this safer alternative.
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While the energy density falls short of lithium-ion levels, the absence of rare earth elements and toxic materials positions these batteries for widespread industrial adoption.
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What makes this battery technology particularly appealing to data centers and utilities facing growing AI power demands?
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The Woburn, Massachusetts facility has begun manufacturing prototypes, with field tests already underway across multiple industrial sectors worldwide.
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These batteries can be produced in existing lithium-ion manufacturing plants with minimal modifications, potentially reducing production costs and supply chain risks.
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Professor Varanasi's team developed multiple battery chemistries targeting different applications, ensuring no single material faces supply constraints.
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Metal processing plants, which previously couldn't consider lithium batteries near their facilities, are now discussing energy storage system implementations with Alsym Energy.
Photo Source- Greg Jordan (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)