You know it well: if you want your solar panels to be as effective as possible, you need to connect them to a battery for energy storage. There are several models of batteries, such as Tesla's lithium Powerwall, which can store about 13,5 kWh of electricity: enough energy for an average family for half a day. The Australian startup I wash relies on hydrogen as the main ingredient of its new battery, which has a capacity of 40 kWh. It 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 household models, enough to power a family up to three days. In addition, 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 that Lavo offers to 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 the 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 billion US dollars). Furthermore, green hydrogen is projected 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, the Lavo hydrogen battery is only available in Australia at a price of 34.750 Australian dollars (about 22.000 euros). However, it could soon be launched internationally. Furthermore, the start-up said that it has already registered orders for the equivalent of around one billion Australian dollars (about 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.
