Redox flow battery technology development from the perspective of patent applications: A review

Abstract

With the continuous increase in global energy consumption, the development and utilization of renewable energy become imperative. However, the intermittency and fluctuation of wind and solar power generation prevent direct grid integration, resulting in energy waste. As a large-scale electrochemical energy storage technology, redox flow batteries (RFBs) can effectively store renewable energy and smooth the power output. This paper summarizes the development history of RFBs technology in China by analyzing relevant patent application data, elaborates on the working principles, advantages and disadvantages of various RFBs, and their latest research progress. It analyzes the technical challenges in current RFBs research and presents the application prospects of RFBs commercialization. The results show that although RFBs technology has made significant progress in China, it still faces issues like high battery cost and limited cycle life. To realize the efficient utilization of renewable energy and green low-carbon development, RFBs technology needs continuous optimization and upgrade. This paper can provide references for the development of RFBs technology.