Energy storage tech to support WA's clean energy future

Western Australia’s GreenTech Hub has identified five innovative energy storage technologies to help the state meet its unique challenges as it transitions to cleaner energy.

Hosted by Curtin University, the GreenTech Hub holds Innovation Challenges to discover and support innovative solutions addressing real-world challenges across areas including decarbonisation, biodiversity loss and realising a circular economy.

The Long Game Energy Storage Challenge saw global companies pitch new and emerging long-duration energy storage (LDES) solutions capable of supporting reliable, efficient and low-emissions energy systems across WA’s remote operational sites and communities.

Five champions were named, while judges also recognised one promising early-stage Western Australian technology for its high potential among emerging solutions.

“The champions of this challenge demonstrate the strength of Western Australia’s innovation ecosystem and our capacity to develop solutions tailored to the state’s unique energy needs,” said Science and Innovation Minister Stephen Dawson. “These technologies show real potential to support more reliable, efficient and lower‑emissions energy systems across regional and remote operations.”

The list of champions includes:

• Allegro Energy — Australian innovators in Microemulsion Flow Battery (MeFB) combining Australian-made innovation with a patented microemulsion electrolyte to deliver long-duration energy storage.
• BroadBit Batteries — Finnish innovators with a new sodium-based LDES solution that can achieve greater material efficiencies, cost reduction and lower emissions than current alternatives.
• e-Zinc — Canadian innovators with LDES technology using a proprietary zinc-air energy storage system.
• Isothermix — Australian innovators whose ChillBank uses intelligent systems and highly optimised phase change proprietary materials to store renewable energy as heat.
• Knode — WA-based innovators whose proprietary aMiscibility Gap Alloy thermal blocks can be flexibly charged through electrically powered resistance heaters or by capturing waste heat from existing processes.
• CO₂ Onboard — WA-based developers of an innovative and simplified system architecture capable of producing power, using methanol simultaneously capturing high-purity CO₂ that can be used for e-methanol/e-fuel production, closing the carbon loop.
   

“WA’s electricity grid is quite unique in the sense that many communities and industries operate at the fringes or off-grid, making long-duration energy storage not nice to have, but essential to keep the lights on,” said Allegro CEO Thomas Nann.

e-Zinc CEO James Larsen said, “WA is tackling some of the hardest energy challenges anywhere in the world given its remote grids, high renewables penetration and strong industrial base which depends on reliable power.

“It’s an environment where long-duration storage is essential and we are excited to help WA achieve its energy goals.”

Image credit: iStock.com/PhonlamaiPhoto