The energy storage sector continues to explore alternatives to lithium-ion batteries, which typically function for only several hours but fall short of the multi-day storage capacity required for heavily renewable-dependent electrical grids. The U.S. Department of Energy has established a benchmark of 10 hours or longer for long-duration energy storage applications. While pumped hydropower has traditionally dominated this capacity in the United States, flow battery technology is gaining traction as a viable complement.
Flow batteries function through a reduction-oxidation process that enables energy collection, storage, and discharge. Unlike lithium-ion systems, flow batteries can be engineered to avoid toxic or flammable materials, relying instead on tanks, pumps, and components that leverage existing domestic supply chains and workforce capabilities. Recent innovations have focused on vanadium-based formulas and organic carbon-based molecules, with international and domestic companies advancing the technology.
Quino Energy, a California startup, has developed a water-based organic flow battery utilizing naturally occurring quinone molecules and secured funding through the CarbonX program to support a microgrid project in the Maldives. XL Batteries, a Massachusetts firm originating from Columbia University research in 2019, has commissioned a commercial-scale pilot facility in Houston and claims a cost structure of less than $0.05 per kilowatt-hour with a 20-year lifespan. The company has received recognition through BloombergNEF Pioneer programs and has announced storage agreements with data center operators for demonstration and larger-scale deployments.
The expansion of data center infrastructure has intensified interest in long-duration energy storage solutions. Industry stakeholders are pursuing renewable energy combined with storage as cost-effective approaches to meeting power demands. However, concerns exist regarding whether the data center sector’s rapid growth might divert resources and attention from broader climate mitigation efforts. Recent market volatility and questions about artificial intelligence sustainability have introduced uncertainty regarding future data center demand and investment trajectories in energy storage technology.
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