TIAX LLC — Department of Energy SBIR Phase I: Current rechargeable battery technologies are too costly and inefficient to meet the urgen

Description

Current rechargeable battery technologies are too costly and inefficient to meet the urgent need for electrical energy storage (EES) that will arise as energy generation by renewable sources such as wind and solar increases. The variable and unpredictable nature of these renewable sources requires that they be coupled with EES for them to become a major proportion of overall generating capacity. TIAX is developing a novel low cost, long life and high cycling efficiency rechargeable EES battery using a fresh approach that leverages battery materials and designs not previously focused on EES applications. The electrode materials and electrolyte will be very low cost, and will be implemented in very low cost, very rapidly manufacturable cell designs. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits: The proposed technology, if successful, will transform battery chemistries for EES by achieving low cost storage not possible even with lead-acid batteries, but in a system with far superior energy density, round trip efficiency and cyclability. In so doing, it will promote US leadership in battery technology development and in implementation of highly distributed renewable electrical energy generation, while enabling cost- competitive manufacturing of this battery technology in the US.