Environmental and Preliminary Cost Assessments of Redox Flow Batteries for Renewable Energy Storage

Abstract

The sustainable use of energy is one of the main challenges currently. The increase in the use of renewable energies must also be accompanied by storage systems that respect the environment or are as harmless as possible. In this work, life‐cycle assessment (LCA) “from cradle to gate” and a preliminary cost assessment of two types of redox flow batteries, such as vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs) and zinc/cerium batteries (ZCBs), are studied. Ecoinvent 3.3 data base, AWARE, and CML Baseline v3.04 methodologies are used to quantify the environmental burden into 12 midpoint impact categories (water footprint, global warming 100a, abiotic depletion, abiotic depletion [fossil fuel], ozone layer depletion, human toxicity, fresh water ecotoxicity, terrestrial ecotoxicity, marine ecotoxicity, photochemical oxidation, acidification, and eutrophication). All impact categories are higher in ZCBs than in VRFBs except water footprint and acidification. These midpoint impacts are also compared with conventional batteries (lithium) and nonconventional ones (NaNiCl). VRFBs have the lowest environmental impact and a longer life considering the reuse of vanadium electrolytes. Regarding the cost analysis, the electrolyte is the most expensive component of both batteries.

Improving sustainability of electrolytic wastewater treatment processes by green powering

“…The highly changing profile in the applied intensity modifies importantly the time-course of the production of oxidants in the treated waste favoring the accumulation of intermediates, which are finally degraded because of the action of the oxidants accumulated. Parallel experiments have been carried out and the results showed similar trends (Millán et al, 2019 andMillán et al, 2020b).…”

“…In addition previous work had been carried out at different times of the year, favourable solar conditions (February) and unfavourable conditions (September) (Souza et al, 2015b, Millán et al, 2019, García-Orozco et al, 2020, Millán et al, 2020a. Millán et al, 2020band Millán et al, 2020c.…”

Interrogation of 2,2′-Bipyrimidines as Low-Potential Two-Electron Electrolytes

“…During discharge of the battery, the opposite redox event is performed. RFBs have traditionally been dominated by the use of aqueous vanadium systems due to their long lifetimes and efficient cycling capabilities. , However, from environmental, sustainability, and economic perspectives, these systems are not ideal. − …”

Modern practices in electrophoretic deposition to manufacture energy storage electrodes

“…Redox flow batteries (RFBs) have many advantages such as high‐energy efficiencies (up to 80%), simple control and monitoring systems, long cycling lifetimes, relatively low maintenance costs, flexible design and an environmentally friendly structure 14 . From the environmental point of view, Fernandez‐Marchante and co‐workers showed the lowest environmental impact from 12 midpoint impact categories, including water footprint, and photochemical oxidation, with a longer lifetime for RFBs considering the re‐use of vanadium electrolytes in comparison to conventional LiBs 186 . Although primary studies were done by Thaller in the early 1970s, 187 major improvements were obtained by Skyllas‐Kazacos in the 1980s 14,188‐190 .…”