Lithium-ion vs. vanadium redox flow storage

From pv magazine Global

Researchers at the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom have compared the performance of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) with that of vanadium redox flow batteries (VFBs) in a modelled commercial PV installation in California.

“The primary contribution of this work is to perform such multi-objective optimisations for VFB and LIB systems using the most detailed degradation models available for each technology,” they said, noting that they see solar oversizing, storage power, and storage duration as the main variables.

The group used a mixed-integer linear programming approach to calculate the self-sufficiency ratio of the storage solutions and a hybrid VFB-LIB system. The solar facility was assumed to have a capacity of 636 kW, to power a grocery store in a single-floor building.

“The facility is active seven days a week and displays a broad peak between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m.,” the researchers said. “In the summer, shorter load spikes occur during the active hours, presumably due to air cooling load.”

The roundtrip AC efficiencies of the LIBs and VFBs were assumed to be 0.94 and 0.78, respectively, and the plant operation was optimised 24 hours at a time, with the assumption of perfect forecasting of PV and demand within this time frame. A rain-flow-counting algorithm was applied to the state-of-charge (SOC) profile of both LIB and VFB in order to calculate their degradation.

The academics found that both the LIBs and VFBs, as well as their hybridisation, with an oversized PV array, could achieve a levelised cost of energy (LCOE) of less than US$0.22 (AU$0.32)/kWh, while still providing a self-sufficiency ratio of 0.95.

“Between 0.8 and 0.95 SSR [self-sufficiency ratio], the optimum duration of both systems is six to 7.5 hours,” the scientists said. “The optimal choice of LIB or VFB depends on both the CAPEX assumptions and the assumptions regarding LIB cell temperature with respect to the ambient climate.”

The group said that LIBs are the cheaper option with a high self-sufficiency ratio, as they require battery oversizing and a lower number of cycles.

“VFB manufacturers should focus on sites with high upper ambient temperature ranges, as LIB will suffer increased LCOE in these situations,” the scientists. “Given the overlap in LCOE for LIB and VFB depending on the scenario, it is likely that other factors will come into consideration when making the choice between the two technologies.”