News & FAQ

Two different liquid electrolytes for the negative and positive electrodes are stored in separate tanks and circulated through two half-cells where the electrochemical reactions for charging or discharging take place. The electrical power is determined by the electrode material and the electrode surface area in the cells. The assembly of several cells results in the energy converter unit, the so-called stack. At the electrodes, the electric potential and voltage are generated through interaction of the two electrolytes. In order to avoid mixing of the electrolytes, the half-cells are separated by a membrane. The membrane is only permeable to certain ions and ensures the charge balance in the electrolytes. Under electrical load the battery supplies energy. To charge the battery, a power source is connected and the reaction in the half cells proceeds in the opposite direction.

Our Organic Flow Battery can be used flexibly throughout the entire energy value chain. They are particularly suitable for stationary energy storage, since the storage capacity is decoupled from the electrical power unit and therefore can be scaled up independently of it. The storage capacity of the battery can simply be adjusted by choice of the tank size and the amount of stored electrolyte. Other advantages are the long life cycle time and the absence of rare heavy metals. No self-discharge takes place in the tanks. Since they are neither flammable nor explosive, Organic Flow Batteries provide a high level of safety during operation for equipment, personnel and environment. The complete value chain can be realized locally and the raw material basis is secured long-term.

Unlike other redox flow batteries, which use solutions of metal salts as electrolytes, the electrolytes of our Organic Flow Technology are based on natural, renewable raw materials and can therefore be seen as a renewable storage technology. All electrotechnical components in the energy converter have been adapted to the electrolyte and optimized for cost-efficient mass production.

The Organic Flow Battery uses an organic electrolyte based on carbon molecules to store energy. Carbon is one of the most widespread elements on earth. It's available in almost unlimited amounts. Therefor, any energy storage scenario can be realized with the Organic Flow technology. The organic electrolytes are dissolved in an aqueous solution.

Freely scalable means that the required electrical power (kW) or storage capacity (kWh) can be chosen to fit the specific application. These two parameters are independently selectable due to the modular configuration. More information can be found at Technology.

Because Organic Flow Batteries are a storage technology with external storage, the electrical power and storage capacity of the battery can be scaled independently. The amount of electrolyte or the size of the tanks determines the battery capacity (amount of storable capacity). The size and number of stacks determines the battery power (maximum electrical current during charging and discharging).