You know it well: if you want your solar panels to be as effective as possible, you must connect them to a battery for energy storage. There are several models of batteries, such as Tesla's lithium Powerwall, which can store around 13,5 kWh of electricity: enough energy for an average family for half a day. The Australian startup I wash is banking on hydrogen as the main ingredient of its new battery, which has a capacity of 40 kWh. This is the first hydrogen-powered accumulator aimed at people.
Hydrogen, at the heart of the Lavo battery
The Lavo battery system consists of a 1,7x1,2 meter box that contains a fuel cell and can store 2-3 times more energy than other home models, enough to support a family up to three days. Additionally, the system also includes a lithium-ion battery and a water purifier.
Towards large-scale production
The lithium-hydrogen hybrid battery module, slightly larger than a refrigerator, is one of the long-term energy storage solutions Lavo offers consumers. In collaboration with other companies, Lavo focuses on developing design principles related to durability, safety and accessibility. The main advantage of the start-up's product is that it is environmentally friendly and has a longer lifespan than other products (estimated at around 30 years). The battery will be more compact than similar models and settings can be made via a smartphone application.
Energy storage, the so-called Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES) is an absolutely essential part of the energy system. By 2040, the total potential market for LDES could represent the equivalent of 10% of all electricity consumed, reaching 1,5 to 2,5 TW of global capacity (more than 1.000 trillion US dollars). Furthermore, green hydrogen is expected to become a $15 trillion market by 2050, supplying 25% of the world's energy needs.
I wash
Household hydrogen battery. An international launch soon?
For the moment, Lavo's hydrogen battery is only available in Australia at the price of 34.750 Australian dollars (around 22.000 euros). However, it may soon launch internationally. Furthermore, the start-up said it has already registered orders worth the equivalent of around one billion Australian dollars (around 643 million euros).
In this sense, it foresees a production on a larger scale. last july, Jacques Markgraaf, Lavo's chief operating officer, told local politicians that his company has already booked orders from 40 countries.
