IIT Madras, Hindustan Zinc Partner to Advance Zinc-Air Battery Tech

Hindustan Zinc and IIT Madras collaborate to develop a 1 kWh rechargeable Zinc-Air battery, offering a cost-effective, sustainable alternative to lithium-ion batteries.

on Oct 14, 2024

The partnership aims to create a prototype of a 1 kWh electrically rechargeable Zinc-Air battery. Zinc-air batteries are being followed as a cost-effective, rechargeable, and durable alternative to expensive, imported Lithium-Ion batteries.

In a Memorandum of Understanding with India's Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Hindustan Zinc, a larger zinc producer in India and the second largest integrated zinc producer in the world, will develop a game-changing 1 kWh electrically rechargeable Zinc-Air prototype battery. This will not only support the global energy transition that has been underway but also express both institutions' desire to shape the future of sustainable energy solutions.

This is a giant leap forward in the development of zinc-based battery technologies. Its pluses are many: abundant resource availability, cost-effectiveness, and zinc's established safety record.

While lithium-ion batteries presently dominate the market, their high cost, limited resource availability, and safety problems pose significant challenges that zinc-based alternatives can effectively address. Zinc is an inescapable metal in many sectors and is also expected to spearhead the leadership of energy transition globally. Our metal can provide a realistic, economically viable alternative to lithium-based storage technology. We look forward to advancing this research in zinc-air battery technology with the Indian Institute of Technology Madras and help redefine the future of energy storage," said Arun Misra, CEO at Hindustan Zinc Limited. For us, it is all about making energy greener and more sustainable for the future through new applications of zinc in energy storage.

Led by Prof. Aravind Kumar Chandiran, who heads the Hyundai Hydrogen Innovation Hub of the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Prof. Chandiran has significant experience in the domain of energy storage solutions, from solar cells to zinc-air batteries. The collaborative effort will undoubtedly improve energy storage systems by developing replacements for unrecyclable battery technology. A prototype rechargeable Zinc-Air battery has been designed; his research group has secured three Indian patents involving innovations in leak resistance, anode recharging, and design for anode replacement.

According to Aravind, a Department of Chemical Engineering faculty member, "Zinc-air batteries hold a promising future in overcoming the challenges associated with current energy storage technologies. Our collaboration with Hindustan Zinc allows us to base our expertise on researching zinc-air batteries with their industry leadership in metals to develop innovative solutions that function as significant energy storage systems for EVs and stationary storage systems.". This prototype will speed up India's credentials in advanced battery technologies and pave the way for further innovations in this space. Zinc-air batteries will become a practical alternative due to the extended storage capacity and resilience of the batteries and because they could be costlier than lithium-ion batteries. Zinc is more economical than lithium and has better performance characteristics.

Zinc-air batteries are becoming a practical alternative due to their extended storage capacity, resilience, and potential to be more cost-effective than lithium-ion batteries. Zinc is more economical than lithium and offers better performance characteristics.

This battery technology is more stable than lithium-ion chemistry and is safe for vehicles as it uses water-based electrolytes and is not flammable. Zinc-air batteries have a longer life cycle and operate at low power with higher energy efficiency than lithium-ion batteries. In terms of performance, Zinc-Air batteries outperform lithium-ion batteries, making them an ideal choice for two- and three-wheelers. Zinc-based batteries have been proven dependable and successful globally, particularly in the high-end defense sector, renewable energy, and critical infrastructure such as data centers, 5G telecom, etc.

Prof. Manu Santhanam, Dean of the Office of Industrial Consultancy & Sponsored Research at IIT Madras, expressed excitement about the collaboration, stating, "We are pleased to partner with Hindustan Zinc Limited to develop next-generation zinc-air batteries using our in-house resources and technologies. Our partnership will strengthen India's goal of self-reliant energy."

Indian Institute of Technology Madras has garnered significant success in zinc-air battery technology with the calamities facing lithium-ion batteries in the market. Unlike lithium-ion batteries, where the whole pack of batteries has to be replaced, the used zinc battery cassette pack can be removed and replaced with a fully charged one, so reusability is yet another advantage to add to the list.

Hindustan Zinc and the Indian Institute of Technology Madras have collaborated strategically to complement this growth by putting zinc-based technologies that provide a safer, more sustainable alternative than lithium-ion batteries. The MoU will complement efforts being made in the space of battery storage in the company, which recently signed an MoU with the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research to look at the development of next-generation zinc-ion batteries.