IRON-AIR BATTERY

Renewable energy is relevant only when it can reach the masses. That is what these batteries are here to do

- SHASHANK SINGH

Renewable energy has being playing the sidekick to main power grids for a long time. Why? Because the power supplied from the main-grid is cheaper to generate (via coal, diesel, kerosene, LNG, nuclear, etc) and is supplied directly to its consumers like industries and homes. Whereas, even though renewable energy sources like wind, solar, water are freely available, the energy produced is costly to harness via equipment like wind turbines, solar cells, hydro-turbines, etc. Then comes the difficult part, which is storing this renewable energy. But, why store this energy and not supply it directly to the consumer as in the case of the main-grid? Because renewable energy sources are unreliable in the sense that their availability depends on nature and not on our needs. For example, during prolonged overcast or stormy/rainy weather, solar energy is in scarcity. Similarly non-windy days won’t turn wind turbines, resulting in no energy generated. Thus, the power supplied from renewable energy sources has to be stored as surplus when available and used when the main-grid is compromised due to, let’s say, routine maintenance or breakdown.