energy supply by 2030, reaching 11 terawatts. This ambitious target requires an unprecedented level of coordination and effort. The last tripling took 12 years; achieving the same in six years from a larger base is incredibly challenging.” He highlights several barriers, including system interconnection queues and the bandwidth of EPC companies to construct new facilities. “Moreover, most long-duration energy storage companies, including e-Zinc, are still in the early stages of commercialization. We must rapidly commercialize to support the volume of renewables required on the grid.” TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS e-Zinc is transitioning from the prototyping phase to the pilot scale, marking a significant milestone. “We’ve spent the last decade prototyping, using methods like CNC mills and 3D printers.We’re moving towards manufacturing methods and processes representative of scale, such as soft tools and molds,” Larsen shares. The company has recently built a 42,000-square-foot pilot-scale manufacturing facility in Mississauga. “This new facility consolidates our operations under one roof for the first time since 2020, allowing us to refine our technology further. We aim to finalize the design for certification and verify the manufacturing methods and processes before moving to full commercial scale,” he adds. COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS AND MARKET FIT Looking ahead, Larsen outlines where e-Zinc’s technology fits in the commercial realm. The first market is resilience, which involves providing behind-the-meter backup power. For example, data centers in California experiencing blackouts typically use diesel generators, which are polluting and costly. e-Zinc’s technology offers a cleaner, economic alternative that also participates in energy markets to generate revenue. The technology behaves like a battery for monetization and a diesel generator for backup power, offering customers the best of both worlds. 4 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 11, ISSUE 09
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