Media Release
September 28 2007
Solar power 24/7 with the help of a better battery
Energy consumption and production in today’s world rely almost
entirely on non-renewable sources.
While environmental concerns are driving the development of sustainable and renewable energy technologies, options such as solar, wind and wave power are, at best, intermittent.
The ability to effectively store energy can greatly improve the reliability of power from renewable sources, increasing their value and the investment in them.
Zinc bromine batteries (ZBBs), advanced energy storage systems that are also environmentally-friendly, cost-effective and highly reliable, offer a solution.
This week, a team of UniSA researchers in partnership with a WA company, was awarded Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Project funding to develop a new membrane for the zinc bromine battery that will provide the nation with a feasible renewable energy storage solution for mains electricity and electric cars.
Project team leader Professor Namita Choudhury from the renowned Ian Wark Research Institute says the answer to improving the performance of ZBBs lies in reducing the bromine diffusion across the membrane satisfactorily inside the battery.
“We are working to create a new highly-efficient membrane with excellent selectivity that will better control the rate at which the chemicals mix, improving battery life and recharge performance so that greater uptake of the product results in the renewable energy storage application markets,” Prof Choudhury said.
Preliminary work conducted by UniSA for ZBB Energy Corporation in 2003 had positive results, however, there were issues, which needed to be addressed. The $550,000, three-year ARC Linkage Project will look into developing a new membrane material, suitable for ZBB application.
ZBBs are able to be used to supplement existing mains power distribution in metropolitan and rural areas, on sites where electricity is not available, as a reliable back-up to intermittent wind, solar and wave supplies, and in electric vehicles.
Congratulating the grant recipients UniSA Vice Chancellor, Professor Peter Høj and Pro Vice Chancellor Research, Professor Caroline McMillen, said the University was continuing to build its research capacity across a range of key research strengths including health and public health, particles science and surface chemistry, biomedical engineering, advanced manufacturing, sociology, psychology and IT development.
"In the past three years we have seen UniSA grow in research strength, including drawing new funding support from agencies such as the NHMRC and enhanced ongoing investment from the ARC to support a broader base for our research efforts," Prof Høj said.
"It is always exciting to see this kind of growth in research capacity, not only because it rewards the ongoing efforts of individual researchers and their teams, but because it is great for the innovative capacity and quality of life in Australia.”
Contact for interview
- Prof Namita Choudury office (08) 8302 3719 email namita.choudhury@unisa.edu.au
Media contact
- Vincent Ciccarello office (08) 8302 0578 mobile 0434 603 457 email vincent.ciccarello@unisa.edu.au