The objectives of the LoCoLyte project are to reduce the high costs of the electrolyte in redox flow batteries, making them more economically viable for use in developing countries where the electricity grid is weak and un-reliable. Flow batteries have been identified as a promising technology for addressing the unique energy demands in weak grids, but adoption has been hindered to date by their high up-front capital costs. The largest factor in the cost of a large commercial flow battery system is the electrolyte, as these typically consist of vanadium redox couples.

This feasibility project aims to demonstrate a high-performance, low-cost, durable Manganese-hydrogen flow battery (MHFB). This storage technology has the potential to provide many hours of high quality power from the kW to MW-scale. A key advantage of this approach over other flow battery chemistries is that it increases power density through use of the hydrogen couple, and utilises a very low cost manganese redox couple. RFC Power has developed a novel electrolyte based on manganese which is estimated to be a tenth of the cost of a vanadium electrolyte in terms of $/kWh of energy stored. In combination this offering will significantly reduce the up-front system cost, which is a major barrier to the widespread adoption of current commercial flow battery technology and is particularly relevant in developing economies.