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  • Blog Aluminium Air Batteries A Powerful New Energy Solution

Aluminium-air batteries: A powerful new energy solution

Contributed by: Team AlCircle

calendarNovember 3, 2023
 

The world is facing an energy crisis, a challenge that our current technology struggles to meet. Traditional lithium-ion batteries have many limitations, such as limited capacity, high weight, cooling, and the risk of overheating, fires, and explosions. These batteries are reliant on scarce materials, come at a premium cost, and have a short lifespan.

What we urgently need is a storage tech that is both more sustainable and cost-effective, with a positive impact on the environment and our future. Aluminium-air batteries emerge as a possible answer to this need. Aluminium-air batteries are a cutting-edge technology that uses aluminium and oxygen as their basic components. When these batteries discharge, the aluminium reacts with oxygen to generate electricity, making it a clean and efficient power source.

A world where your EV can travel 1,000 km on a single charge or your smartphone can last for a week is now within reach, thanks to the incredible potential of aluminium-air batteries. They are a groundbreaking leap in energy storage technology, promising to transform the entire green industry. They beat traditional lithium-ion batteries in terms of energy density, and their environmental pros are equally impressive.

Advantages of aluminium-air batteries

High energy density - The biggest feature of aluminium-air batteries is their high energy density. They can store a large amount of energy relative to their weight and volume. This makes them ideal for uses with space and weight constraints, such as EVs and portable electronics.

Cost-effective and abundant - Aluminium is one of the most abundant metals on Earth, which makes it a cost-efficient metal for battery production. It has a benefit in material availability and cost compared to some other battery technologies, which rely on rare and expensive materials.

Environmental friendliness - These batteries are environmentally friendly due to the use of oxygen from the air as a reactant, which means they produce no carbon emissions during operation. Aluminium-air batteries are a clean energy storage option, especially when integrated into EVs and transportation systems. They are also recyclable.

Long shelf life - Unlike certain other battery types that deteriorate over time, aluminium-air batteries have a long shelf life. They stay functional and ready for use, even after prolonged storage periods in the warehouse. These batteries also have a higher resistance to extreme heat, making them ideal for harsh climates such as India and Africa.

Established supply chain - A robust value chain for manufacturing, transportation, and recycling of aluminium has existed for a century. Using aluminium as a battery component has the potential to revolutionise the EV industry, given abundant aluminium reserves worldwide.

Long range for EVs - The high energy density of aluminium-air batteries means longer driving ranges for electric vehicles. This is a critical factor for EV adoption, as consumers often cite range anxiety as a concern. Aluminium-air batteries have the potential to fix this issue by letting vehicles travel longer distances between recharges.

Lightweight - Aluminium-air batteries are quite lightweight, making them useful for applications where weight is a concern. This is particularly important for drones, UAVs, and consumer electronics, where battery weight directly affects performance.

The state of the market

The global Al-Air battery market was around $ 5 in 2021, with a high growth of 8.4% - making it likely to reach $ 10 by 2030. The market is currently in its infancy, with Europe being dominant. Still, many countries such as India, America, and China are also making significant investments, and it is expected that the Asia-Pacific will be a major market soon.

The major firms in this space right now are Phinergy, Fuji Pigment Co., Alcoa Corporation, Aluminium Corporation of China, and Xinjiang Joinworld. Several other companies, such as Hindalco, are also trying to enter the space.

Limitations and challenges

Despite their many advantages, aluminium-air batteries do face some limitations and challenges. The batteries have a fixed lifespan because the aluminium anode is consumed during the reaction with oxygen. This causes the need for periodic replacement. To function, aluminium-air batteries also need a steady supply of air. This can be a challenge in specific applications where a consistent air supply is not easily possible.

Another of the main challenges with them is their limited rechargeability. They are used as primary (non-rechargeable) batteries due to the difficulty of the recharging process. On top of that, the anode in aluminium-air batteries (aluminium) is susceptible to corrosion over the battery's lifespan. This can limit the battery's efficiency.

To conclude, aluminium-air batteries have plenty of potential as a clean and high-energy-density storage technology, especially for specific applications like long-range EVs, consumer electronics, maritime uses, and grid energy storage. However, their current limitations in terms of rechargeability, safety, and corrosion must be researched to make them more practical and widely adopted. Research and development continue for this technology, and it will play a more prominent role in the future of energy storage as these issues are addressed and resolved.