'Nearly 80 times cheaper than lithium': China is working on ultra affordable iron battery that can run 16 years without degrading — using one of the most abundant elements on Earth to store power and a water-based electrolyte system that cannot explode

Iron flow battery bank.

• Iron flow battery runs 6,000 cycles without measurable capacity loss
• New electrolyte chemistry reduces degradation and membrane crossover problems
• Iron materials offer low-cost alternative for large-scale renewable energy storage

Researchers in China say they have made new progress on iron-based flow batteries that could reduce the cost of storing renewable energy while extending usable lifespan.