Beyond Lithium: Zinc will Enable the Energy Grids of the Future

Source: Morgan Frederick · NA CLEAN ENERGY · | May 16, 2021

Source: North America Clean Energy

Pick up a newspaper and it’s more likely than not you’ll see a mention of lithium’s role in electric vehicles and, increasingly, energy storage. These batteries serve valuable purposes, but what you don’t see mentioned are the limitations of the applications of lithium batteries: insecure supply chains, risky flammability, and inadequate recyclability. 

It’s not a matter of “if”, but “when” all the complements and alternatives to lithium gain the prominence they deserve. It’s time to bank on zinc’s promising role in the energy systems of the future.  

Zinc is exceptionally well suited to electrochemical storage. That’s why it was the key ingredient in the world’s first battery, and why it still powers all the AA, C, and D batteries in our homes. As global requirements for energy storage become more demanding and complex, a range of new zinc-based technologies have emerged to innovate and advance the capability of batteries to provide our increasingly challenging global energy needs.

Sustainable, safe and cost-effective

Zinc-based batteries are top-of-class in sustainability, safety and cost. That’s because zinc is one of the most abundant minerals on earth. More importantly, it offers stable end-to-end supply chains that are already present in each major region. North America claims many leading producers of zinc batteries; these companies are able to produce finished products while sourcing directly from domestic mines and refiners.

Zinc is a safe mineral used widely as a vitamin supplement, in agricultural feed, and as a key ingredient in sunscreen.  Zinc batteries have zero risk of flammability, do not require special safety systems or hazardous labels while shipping, and benefit from a well-established recycling process.