Energy storage manufacturer CMBlu has developed - in the context of New Energy - an innovative product: the sustainable flow storage unit. This "Organic Flow Battery" can be a solution or a game-changer for the central question of energy supply, which is: How can green energy be stored safely in large quantities?
Organic Flow Batteries from CMBlu are the first of their kind to be developed for commercial use. The technology is based on readily available, fully recyclable, organic materials. The aqueous electrolytes are non-flammable and ensure absolutely safe and reliable operation. The batteries are freely scalable between output and capacity. They can therefore be precisely adapted to the individual requirements of the corresponding application with corresponding cost advantages. The system-inherent separation of electrolyte and actual energy converter not only avoids the effect of self-discharge, but also enables the restoration of the original performance by simply replacing individual components instead of the entire battery.
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Redox flow batteries store electrical energy in liquid electrolytes instead of with solid electrodes. The electrolytes are stored in external tanks and pumped through the battery stacks in a constant "flow" during charging and discharging. The organic redox flow batteries from CMBlu follow a new approach: instead of metal ions, electrolytes made of carbon compounds are used. Carbon is the core element of redox reactions, which have been optimised by evolution over billions of years and have kept organic cells alive for just as long. The use of organic electrolytes enables a particularly efficient, durable and sustainable electricity storage technology. In addition to innovative electrolytes, our batteries also have a scalable design. The result: a high-performance organic flow battery specially designed for storing large amounts of electricity.
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The technology solution from CMBlu is more topical today than ever before. Energy prices are skyrocketing, the implementation of an accelerated energy transition is in doubt and lithium or cobalt based energy storage is less "green" than thought. However, CMBlu's organic electrolyte-based flow storage units are a more than suitable solution to all these problems. They are the "missing link" for a pragmatic implementation of the energy transition and can be used, for example, to store surplus green electricity in large quantities, to power electrically operated ships, to supply charging stations with green electricity or to cap load peaks of the grid in the energy supply. Applications for organic flow batteries range from renewable power generation to EV charging infrastructure to industrial parks, shipping, energy trading, etc.
Large-scale storage for commercial and industrial applications
Operators of industrial production sites or business parks face numerous energy challenges. According to the so-called energy policy target triangle, these can be divided into three categories: Minimising energy costs; Ensuring an uninterrupted energy supply; Transforming into a sustainable and climate-neutral energy supply while taking into account growing ethical standards; Organic flow batteries can make valuable contributions in all three areas.
1. Minimising energy costs:
Batteries can contribute to minimising grid charges and electricity tariffs through load shifting and peak shaving. These are often the most attractive business cases for batteries: Relatively small investments lead to massive cost reductions. In addition, companies that generate electricity and steam in cogeneration can temporarily decouple the fixed ratio in the generation of both forms of energy. Optimising this additional degree of freedom results in further cost reduction potential for the location.
2. Secure and resilient power supply:
Even in the event of blackouts in the upstream grid, batteries can guarantee an uninterrupted power supply. They thus not only replace diesel generators, but also impress in a direct comparison with significantly lower response times and higher reliability. Organic flow batteries from CMBlu combine a long service life and number of cycles with extremely reliable and safe operation. As they are based on aqueous solutions, we can exclude the overheating due to fires that is typical for lithium-ion batteries. Due to the storage of the charge in separate tanks, flow batteries are also characterised by the fact that virtually no self-discharge occurs.
3. Green batteries for a green future:
Organic flow batteries are not only an elementary component in the integration of electricity generated locally on site or elsewhere from renewable energies, as well as in the support of on-site emobility charging infrastructure - the energy storage systems themselves are also constructed entirely from organic or green materials. The entire value chain can be developed locally and thus without long transport routes and import dependencies. (nw/mfo)
