Progress in redox flow batteries, remaining challenges and their applications in energy storage

TLDR

Redox flow batteries, developed over 40 years, store energy at medium‑to‑large scale for load levelling, power quality control, and renewable energy deployment, with performance enhanced by improved electrodes, separators, and cell design. The review aims to highlight remaining challenges and directions for further research in redox flow battery technology. The authors summarize the development of redox flow battery technology, covering proposed chemistries, cell components, and recent applications.

Abstract

Redox flow batteries, which have been developed over the last 40 years, are used to store energy on the medium to large scale, particularly in applications such as load levelling, power quality control and facilitating renewable energy deployment. Various electrode materials and cell chemistries have been proposed; some of the successful systems have been demonstrated on a large-scale in the range of 10 kW–10 MW. Enhanced performance is attributable to the improvements in electrodes, separator materials and an increasing awareness of cell design. This comprehensive review provides a summary of the overall development of redox flow battery technology, including proposed chemistries, cell components and recent applications. Remaining challenges and directions for further research are highlighted.