Projects:

Novel designs for high-power vanadium redox flow battery stacks:

The idea is to develop battery stacks of 1 kW, 2 kW and 5 kW for domestic/ off-grid power applications

Enhancing power density of vanadium redox flow battery

Vanadium redox flow battery power densities are about a quarter of those of lithiium-ion batteries. We will explore enhancing power density through electrode activation (catalytic and non-catalytic) and additives to increase the concentration of vanadium species

New redox flow battery chemistries

Although vanadium-based redox flow battery systems are the most commercially advanced, a number of alternative chemistries are coming up with promises of low electrolyte cost (organic electrolytes), enhanced possibility of scale-up and sustainability (iron-based electrolytes), etc. The scope of this project is to build these battery systems up to 1 kW and test their performance.

Redox flow batteries for sub-zero (-20oC) ambient temperatures

Battery performance degrades with decrease in ambient temperature. Vanadium-based flow batteries have the potential to go down to -20 deg C or lower. The scope of this project is create the facility for low temperature operation of batteries and characterize (and improve) their performance..

Battery-solar PV integration studies

Integration of redox flow batteries with solar PV and mixed (DC and AC) loads is essential. The objective of this project is to study this integration up to a 5 kW power capacity and 25 kWh energy storage capacity with the intention of scaling up eventually to 1 MWh energy storage capacity with industry participation.