The main advantages of flow batteries over lithium-ion batteries include:
- Longevity and Cycle Life: Flow batteries have a significantly longer lifespan and can endure many more charge/discharge cycles without degradation compared to lithium-ion batteries. They can operate for up to 30 years, whereas lithium-ion batteries typically last about 8-10 years.
- Safety: Flow batteries are generally safer because they have a lower risk of thermal runaway and do not contain flammable electrolytes, making them less prone to fires or explosions.
- Scalability: Flow batteries can scale up or down in power and energy capacity independently by adjusting the size of the electrolyte tanks, which is beneficial for large-scale energy storage applications.
- Longer Duration of Energy Discharge: Flow batteries can discharge for longer periods, typically up to 10-12 hours, compared to lithium-ion batteries which usually have a shorter discharge time of about 1-4 hours.
- Cost of Ownership: Over longer periods, flow batteries can offer a lower cost of ownership due to their durability and minimal degradation over time.
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