Flow Battery Technology for Power Grid Applications: A Comprehensive Overview

As renewable energy sources continue to expand, driven by the need for decarbonization and energy security, the demand for advanced energy storage systems capable of managing renewable variability grows in parallel. Flow batteries have emerged as a promising solution, offering unique scalability, extended cycle life, and adaptable capacity, making them particularly well-suited for grid applications. While extensive research has focused on traditional battery storage technologies, particularly lithium-ion batteries, for grid integration, the potential of flow battery technologies for large-scale grid application has been relatively overlooked in the literature. To this end, this paper provides a consolidated overview of flow battery operation, key characteristics, and advantages in grid applications. Additionally, it compares flow batteries with lithiumion batteries and examines several alternative flow battery designs, highlighting their potential to support higher levels of renewable energy penetration.