The investigation into the production of three flow batteries provides important guidance on potential environmental impact associated with battery component manufacturing, upstream production activities, battery system designs, and materials selection choices, given state-of-the-art commercial technologies.
How are flow battery technologies based on environmental impact?
The production of three commercially available flow battery technologies is evaluated and compared on the basis of eight environmental impact categories, using primary data collected from battery manufacturers on the battery production phase including raw materials extraction, materials processing, manufacturing and assembly.
How are ow battery technologies based on environmental impact?
The production of various flow battery technologies is evaluated and compared on the basis of eight environmental impact categories. Primary data was collected from battery manufacturers on the battery production phase, including raw materials extraction, materials processing, manufacturing, and assembly.
What factors affect the environmental impact of flow batteries?
Three types of flow batteries with different design parameters were analyzed. Design factors and materials choices largely affect the environmental impact. Choices fr cell stack, electrolyte and membrane materials influence total impact. Design of accessories and balance of plant can reduce environmental impact.
Does a life cycle assessment affect the environmental impact of Ow batteries?
The present study focuses on using life cycle assessment to evaluate the environmental impact associated with the industrial-scale production of flow batteries and the corresponding sensitivity to materials selection decisions.
What is a battery production phase?
The battery production phase is comprised of raw materials extraction, materials processing, component manufacturing, and product assembly, as shown in Fig. 1. As this study focuses only on battery production, the battery use and end-of-life phases are not within the scope of the study.
Does battery chemistry affect environmental impact?
The environmental impact of a flow battery depends significantly on the battery chemistry, specifically the choice of electrolyte and cell stack materials. However, it also depends on the design and production methods of the balance of plant.