New Batteries Made Entirely From Plastic Can Store Renewable Energy On The Grid

A startup has come up with a new type of battery made entirely from electrically conductive polymers, or in other words, good old plastic!

According to Boston-based startup PolyJoule, the batteries could make energy storage on the grid cheaper and durable, offering maximisation of renewable energy. Reported first by MIT Technology Review, the batteries could be considered longer-lasting alternative to lithium-ion batteries - especially to store electricity from solar and wind sources.

Using 18,000 cells, PolyJoule has installed a pilot product and its conductive polymers are able to replace lithium and lead typically found in batteries.

PolyJoule/MIT Tech Review

Why would anyone want a plastic battery?

PolyJoule was started by MIT professors Tim Swager and Ian Hunter, who were the first ones to think that conductive polymers could be effective in storing energy. Besides charging up quickly, conductive polymers are relatively cheap.

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Also read: NASA's Upcoming Battery Tech Could Recharge Electric Cars In Just 15 Minutes

There is one issue though. Each battery pack is two to five times larger than a lithium-ion system offering similar capacities. Owing to this, PolyJoule thought that its tech would be ideal for stationary applications instead of in electronics or cars.

The startup's CEO Eli Paster says they want to make a "really robust, low-cost battery that just goes everywhere." Unlike lithium-ion batteries are currently used in stationary applications, PolyJoule's batteries do not require active temperature control systems to prevent overheating and fires.

E&T magazine

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While the tech costs $65 per kilowatt-hour of storage as of now, Paster told MIT Tech Review that their focus right now is to build batteries that are easy to manufacture. To fulfill this, PolyJoule uses a water-based manufacturing chemistry - employing the power of commercially available machines to assemble its battery cells. This way, no special conditions are required to manufacture these groundbreaking plastic batteries.

What do you think about batteries made from plastic? Let us know in the comments below. For more in the world of technology and science, keep reading Indiatimes.com.

References

Crownhart, C. (2022, April 16). These plastic batteries could help store renewable energy on the grid. MIT Technology Review.