Lead author and battery researcher Gabriel Nambafu assembles a test flow battery apparatus.

The aqueous iron (Fe) redox flow battery here captures energy in the form of electrons (e-) from renewable energy sources and stores it by changing the charge of iron in the flowing liquid electrolyte. When the stored energy is needed, the iron can release the charge to supply energy (electrons) to the electric grid.

The Grid Storage Launchpad, opening on the Richland, Washington, campus of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in 2024, will help evaluate new grid-scale battery technology.