5. Iron-Air Batteries:
How Do They Work?
According to Popular Mechanics, iron-air batteries work by oxidizing iron — using air to turn iron into rust — to produce energy. During the battery’s charging process, the cells are transformed back to iron through reverse oxidation.
How Will They Be Used?
Iron-air batteries are great for energy storage, providing up to 100 hours of storage at a tenth of the cost compared to lithium-ion batteries. Form Energy, an energy storage company, has finished constructing its plant in West Virginia and has received approval to build another site in Minnesota in partnership with Xcel Energy. Form Energy has also partnered with Puget Sound Energy to expand its technology in Washington State. All these developments allow Form Energy to provide crucial energy support to power plants.
Pros and Cons of Iron-Air Batteries
Given the world’s abundance of iron and air, these batteries are very affordable. According to Popular Mechanics, they’re up to 10 times cheaper and last up to 17 times longer.
The only drawbacks are their large size and slow recharge time.
