e-Zinc

7 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 9, ISSUE 4 on the team’s agenda is getting the word out that there is a new battery in town, which it is doing with the help of partners like the Zinc Battery Initiative. “ZBI is doing a lot to promote zinc batteries,” says Larsen. “For example, they commissioned a study on the sustainability of zinc, including its recyclability and reusability.” Sustainability is a seldom held, yet critical discussion about batteries. For instance, zinc is the 24th most abundant element in the world, found in zinc, copper and lead mines worldwide, while lithium lies 33rd on the list. “A significant percentage of global lithium supply is controlled by China, Australia, and Chile, creating a triopoly that affects global accessibility and prices,” says Larsen. “It behooves us to look at a diverse source of materials, and when we look at zinc, it has an outstanding story to tell.” e-Zinc is deploying its first fully integrated energy storage solution in Canada in partnership with Faromor, a natural ventilation company, MIT report found that California would need 20 times its existing energy storage capacity when it achieves its 50% renewables target. More strikingly, it’s predicted that the state would require 4,000 times the existing energy storage capacity by 2045, once renewables account for 100% of the energy system. In addition, Larsen notes that other studies indicate that once renewable energy penetration crosses the 60% threshold, grids will require tens to hundreds of hours of storage. He reports, “California, one of the most advanced renewable markets globally, is at around 50% and is on course to reach the threshold by 2026. This was part of the impetus for their global solicitation for non-lithium batteries, which we happened to win. They know the big switch to renewables is imminent, and they need technologies to support this transition.” e-Zinc currently has a team of 25 and is actively recruiting to double its team this year. Top