Lead acid battolysers - the pathway to low cost green hydrogen?

Agenda for
5-9 September
2022

Prof Dani Strickland

CEng FIET, Loughborough University

This talk discusses the possibility of redesigning the lead acid battery into a lead acid battolyser. A battolyser is a battery/electrolyser combined and is based on aqueous flow battery technology. The future zero-carbon electricity grid requires long-term storage both from batteries and green hydrogen. Electrolysers are expensive and use scarce materials such as Iridium. The battolyser concept was developed at Delft University in 2017 and has focussed on converting Nickel-Iron batteries to battolysers. The work at Loughborough University is focused on re-designing the lead acid battery into a battolyser. There are advantages in using lead acid, including a developed recycling chain. This talk discusses two aspects of the research; the business case for using battolysers especially in conjunction with wind power and includes up to date test results from the research program looking at performance and degradation under both electrolysis and battery functionality. The talk concludes with the challenges that still need to be solved.

Bio

Prof Dani Strickland, CEng FIET at Loughborough University, has had a career in electrical power spanning over 25 years in both industry and academia. Her industrial work has included working for E.On (1995-2000) and leading the power and controls team at Rolls Royce Fuel Cell Systems (2005-2010). Her role at Rolls Royce Fuel cells included; Overall technical responsibility for design, testing and commissioning of the safety, control and electrical systems for fuel cell systems. Grid Connection issues (power electronics, arc flash, protection, electrical safety, grounding). Root Cause Analysis work and management of up to 20 staff.

In academia (2010-present) she has a wide research portfolio around energy storage and measurement and monitoring including research grant income of >£2m as PI and >£9m as CI. This income has been mostly awarded through peer-reviewed bodies such as the CBI, EPSRC, Innovate UK, The TSB and DECC. A large part of this research work has been carried out in collaboration with industrial partners. Dani has over 70 relevant peer reviewed papers in this area. She is module leader for the MSc module on energy storage including hydrogen. Dani is Vice Chairman of IEEE P1459 and P120 standards and sits on the IET code of practices for energy storage committee.