New seawater battery – cost-effective route to large-scale energy storage
A new type of eco-friendly battery that uses seawater to produce and store electricity is being developed in South Korea by the researchers at Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST).
Compared to a lithium-ion battery, this battery is much less expensive, more environmentally friendly, and less prone to fire risks. Seawater batteries operate without an external power supply and can be used as energy storage systems both for homes and industries. However, these batteries are not yet ready for commercial distribution since at present they have relatively low electrical power output. That is why the researchers at UNIST will try to design a more optimized battery with an enhanced charge rate to get over this challenge.
By 2018 UNIST, tohether with the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), will establish a testing facility to mass produce seawater batteries.
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