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this post was submitted on 28 Apr 2026
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Energy density isn't really a problem for grid-wide storage. Just build huge electrolyte tanks under the solar panels, voilà, generation and storage.
If they're really stable, they'll probably be placed all over the place and be a huge help in managing demand.
It won't fit all use cases, you'll want batteries with better density for anything mobile, but there's definitely also a huge use case for this type of battery.
The mw scale container lithium batteries could fit at most substations for a decentralized storage system without needing much if any new land. These kind of lower density batteries wouldn't work as well for that. They'd need more land and couldn't go in as many places.
The main benefit of these kinds of batteries is that you mainly just need to increase storage tanks to increase capacity. So price is pretty flat compared to the linear increase for lithium ones. Above a certain size, they are cheaper. Plus ~15k charge cycles vs 1k. Easy to recycle the electrolyte. No fire hazard because it's all disolved in water. But bigger space footprint.
Does it take more land than a solar array? What about a coal plant + its open pit mines, or a nuclear plant + its waste storage?
I have literally never heard of space even remotely being an issue for grid storage before, except in the context of pumped hydro sites. Why are people suddenly whining about how it can't fit into a closet? Are they under the impression that this is how the grid works right now? Do they think there needs to be a gas peaker plant in every substation or else the grid collapses?
The way the grid works now with highly centralized large installations is a weakness in the system itself. A gas peaker plant takes up all that space because it needs it.
Solar arrays do take up a lot of space, and we can't just put them anywhere.
Moving away from that into more decentralized systems will strengthen the grid overall, and that includes getting solar on our roofs as well, where we have this unused space (edit: and at places like our massive parking lots)
A big battery farm with batteries that take up a lot of space somewhere isn't bad, but you aren't just doing that anywhere, but you can likely drop down 4mwh container sized batteries right in the middle of cities at their substations just fine, and that will build resilience. (edit: And in this case, they already own the land, and they often have extra space)
With something like that, you could even cut yourself off from the bigger grid if something goes wrong and still provider power to those connected to the battery for a brief time.
Edit: And ya, I'm sure you could probably drop a smaller one of these in there as well, but if space is confined, you'd want to get the most out of it.
Edit: I found a picture of one up here in Canada, it's a 8.4mwh flow battery that went live recently. It's that building (better pics further down). That, vs 2 semi truck containers for 7.8mwh. https://invinity.com/canadas-largest-solar-powered-vanadium-flow-battery-to-be-installed-in-alberta/
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