Hindustan Zinc Limited (HZL), India's largest and the world's second-largest zinc producer, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with AEsir Technologies, Inc., a US-based company specialising in next-generation zinc battery technologies. Under this agreement, HZL will serve as the preferred supplier of zinc, a crucial raw material for AEsir Technologies' innovative batteries.
Zinc-based batteries offer a compelling alternative to other energy storage solutions, providing higher power at lower costs, minimal maintenance, and longer lifespans of up to 20 years. These characteristics make them ideal for large-scale energy storage in industrial settings. The partnership aligns with HZL’s strategy to explore emerging applications of zinc in the clean energy transition.
Zinc batteries are gaining traction due to their corrosion resistance, cost-effectiveness, recyclability, stability, and environmental friendliness. They offer broader temperature tolerance and reliable backup power for extended periods (3-72 hours) compared to other metals. Built with non-flammable materials, they are non-reactive to air and water, produce no toxic fumes, and are fully recyclable, utilising non-hazardous raw materials. Additionally, zinc-based batteries have a greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint six times lower than other technologies.
AEsir Technologies' Nickel Zinc (NiZn) batteries have proven dependable in high-end defence sectors, renewable energy, and critical infrastructure for data centers and 5G telecom. Continuous improvement over decades has enabled AEsir’s NiZn batteries to overcome historical issues like electrolyte dry-out, metal branching (dendrite growth), and zinc migration.
Arun Misra, CEO of HZL, stated, “Zinc is integral to a low-carbon future. Our focus is to produce metals sustainably for applications that power the global energy transition. This partnership with AEsir Technologies is a step forward in our development of emerging clean technologies. By providing high-quality zinc for cutting-edge energy storage, we are paving the way for environmentally friendly solutions for a greener tomorrow.”
Randy Moore, CEO & Co-Founder of AEsir Technologies, added, “Energy storage is at the forefront of innovations in the energy transition space. Zinc batteries are leading the charge in this domain. This collaboration with Hindustan Zinc provides us with critical raw material for the development of next-gen Nickel Zinc batteries.”
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