07 Sep The Photon Farmer’s bromine battery technology

HOW ZINC BROMINE FLOW BATTERIES MAKE GRID INDEPENDENT FARMING POSSIBLE

Renewable, low-carbon energy systems are part of the strategy to address global climate change while meeting our energy needs But we are not there yet with these climate friendly systems. Lots of electricity is not consumed at the time it is produced. More energy storage is needed so that it is not wasted and it can be provided continuously. Clever energy storage strategies and systems are needed. One such example is the Photon Farmer. A farmer cannot depend on when the sun shines or when the wind blows to milk his cows.

Farms, the ideal locations for solar and wind energy storage

To run a farm, a lot of energy is needed. Our traditional energy system is based on large, central production facilities and many small users. The production of energy is then in line with the demand. Optimally matching supply and demand is not that self-evident with renewable energy. Here is where bromine-based flow battery technologies can help. The Photon Farmer – a dairy farm located in Vierakker in the eastern Netherlands – is now testing this revolutionary energy storage system. The 57.5-hectare family-owned sustainable and highly automated farm houses 100 cows, and has a large shed roof with a 50kW rooftop solar system. Just as most farms, there’s even paddock space for windmills if needed.

What is the aim of this project ? To make this farm become completely grid independent, and to explore the best business model for storage of locally produced renewable energy. Positive results should serve as an example for other projects inside and outside the agricultural business. With this goal in mind, the Photon Farmer has obtained financial backing from the European Union.

Bromine-based flow batteries are making it happen

The Photon Farmer is the first project in its region to test the Redflow ZBM2 intelligent battery management system, and to profit by it.

The Redflow ZBM2 battery is a bromine-based flow battery. It is the ultimate renewable solution for smart grid energy management. The advantages of this energy storage system are notable. Decreasing power demand at peak hours lowers the electricity usage. By deploying power when it is needed the most, energy waste is minimized. And users are assured that operations can continue in the event of power outage.

Redflow’s unique battery is fire safe and non-flammable – because of both its design and the used bromine electrolyte – and can operate at high ambient temperatures. With the 100% daily depth of discharge and the delivery of 10 kWh of sustained storage (warranted for 10 years), the flow battery delivers superior energy storage performance. On top of that, there is no loss of energy storage capacity over time. The battery components are easily recyclable or re-usable. Read more about the role of bromine in flow batteries in our article “Bromine as energy storage enabler”.

The reduction of the impact of energy consumption through improved efficiency, and successful deployment of renewable sources, present both financial growth and environmental benefits. That is why – in 2016 – the unique storage design was nominated for the Responsible Care Award by the VNCI, and why BSEF supports this innovation in energy storage.

The global success of renewable energy storage

This project is the first of its kind in this part of Europe. But Redflow ZBM2 batteries are sold and already globally installed. In Austria, Germany, Portugal and Spain, large-scale telecommunications, industrial and commercial applications use the storage systems. The battery is even used in homes in Australia.

A progressive project, a unique cooperation

Six parties came together for this unique test. The cooperation consists of a project initiator and system integrator (Trinergie), an agricultural entrepreneur (the Photon Farmer), a chemical company specialized in the development of electrolytes for Redox Flow batteries (ICL – BSEF member), an energy trading company (AgroEnergy), the measuring and control engineering department of the university of applied science (HAN) and farmers organization LTO-Noord. This project was the first of its kind in its region, and in all probability not the last.

Do you see potential for these flow battery storage systems, and where would you see these innovations happen?

Do not hesitate to share this article, to give your opinion and to start the conversation.

SOURCES

Dutch farm deploys six Redflow batteries – Redflow

Redflow zinc bromine batteries tapped for Dutch solar-powered dairy – one step off the grid

ICL Deploys Bromine-based Battery Technology For Energy Storage – Cision PR Newswire