Hindustan Zinc Limited has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) to jointly develop innovative zinc-based battery technologies aimed at commercializing sustainable energy storage solutions.
This collaboration marks a significant step in advancing battery technology, leveraging zinc’s advantages such as abundant availability, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability. While lithium-ion batteries currently dominate the market, challenges such as limited lithium availability, geographic concentration of processing facilities, safety concerns, and high costs highlight the need for alternative solutions. Zinc, being more affordable and safer, presents a promising alternative.
Zinc-based batteries offer benefits like long-term energy storage, durability, and a proven safety record, making them ideal for applications in defense, renewable energy, critical infrastructure, and telecommunications. The partnership will focus on researching zinc alloys as anodes for Zinc-Ion and Zinc-Air batteries, developing high-performance electrolytes, and designing recycling processes for zinc-based batteries.
Arun Misra, CEO of Hindustan Zinc Limited, emphasized the company’s commitment to supporting the growing demand for alternative energy solutions through the development of critical raw materials. By advancing zinc-based battery technology, Hindustan Zinc aims to accelerate the transition to sustainable energy across key industries.
JNCASR’s team, led by Prof. Premkumar Senguttuvan, will collaborate with Hindustan Zinc to enhance the performance and reliability of zinc-based batteries. Prof. Senguttuvan, an expert in battery technology, brings extensive experience in developing energy storage systems using elements like lithium, sodium, and zinc. The research is expected to significantly contribute to a more sustainable and resilient energy future, leveraging zinc’s widespread availability, low environmental impact, and cost-effectiveness.
