N E W S - I N D U S T R Y M A T T E R S
12 September 2019
The future of powering our lives –
continuously rechargeable batteries
Could we be close to having sustainable, continuously rechargeable
batteries that power our lives? University of
Canterbury (UC) Associate Professor Aaron Marshall thinks
so and is developing redox flow batteries as a viable energy
storage system that will never wear.
Associate Professor Aaron Marshall from the College of Engineering’s
Chemical and Process Engineering department
is working towards developing a stable, reliable, cost-effective
redox flow battery alternative to the traditional Lithium
ion (Li-ion).
“Supply and demand is the biggest problem with renewable
energy. Most of our electricity isn’t used during daylight
hours, therefore we need a reliable, stable way of storing energy,”
he says.
In Li-ion batteries, the energy is stored when Li ions react with
and absorb into the solid electrodes. This physically changes
the electrodes, making them expand and contract during
the charging and discharging process. Redox flow batteries
are very different. The electrodes don’t change, instead the
system uses tanks of liquid, made up of metals dissolved in a
solution, which is charged and discharged.
“The constant changing of the physical structure in a Li-ion
battery eventually wears out the electrodes, to the point
where they can’t absorb as much energy. Over time you will
only be able to charge your battery to 50% and, because it’s
not easily recyclable, the average consumer simply replaces
the battery. Redox flow batteries don’t lose charging capacity
over time because the solution doesn’t wear,” he says.
This makes redox flow batteries sound very attractive, but
there are challenges to making it a viable option.
“One challenge to redox flow batteries at this stage is how
slow the battery can be charged and discharged. In order to
release a comparable amount of power as Li-ion batteries, the
flow battery electrodes need to be big – impractically big.”
“We are working towards developing a more viable system. If
we can halve the size of the electrodes by doubling the speed
of the reaction, then we can reduce the cost. If we can make a
cheaper system that is comparable in price to a Li-ion battery,
but lasts at least twice as long and is more stable wouldn’t that
be attractive?”
“And the most exciting part is, we are only scratching the surface.
These batteries could be cheap and robust solutions to
large-scale energy storage.”
“Redox flow batteries are already used as nuclear power backup
because of the stability and reliability to store and not lose
power over long periods of time, but I think over the next four
to five years this type of system will become much more common.”
NZ Crane Hire supports Pedal4Prostate
NZ Crane Hire, leading New Zealand
mobile crane hire company,
has signed on as major sponsor of
Pedal4Prostate, a charity cycling
event that raises funds for the Prostate
Cancer Foundation.
Managing director, Deane Manley,
says that having worked in the
male-dominated construction industry
for more than 30 years he
feels a responsibility to encourage
those around him to talk more openly
about prostate cancer and the importance
of regular testing.
“In the past we have supported a
number of different organisations
and events in smaller capacities, but
this year I’ve decided to focus resources
on a couple I felt really passionate
about.”
“Supporting the Prostate Cancer
Foundation’s Pedal4Prostate event
felt like a natural fit,” he says.
Prostate cancer is the number one
cancer in Kiwi men, with the Ministry
of Health data showing that more
than 600 die from the disease every
year.
Pedal4Prostate is an exciting and
fun 4-hour endurance cycling race
at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park
in support of the Prostate Cancer
Foundation of New Zealand as part
of Blue September. The event, which
will be taking place on Sunday 13th
of October, is open to everyone over
the age of 16 and welcomes all levels
of riding experience.
Pedal4Prostate is a key fundraising
event for the Prostate Cancer
Foundation of New Zealand, which
relies on fundraising from events like
these to continue providing support
for men and their families living with
prostate cancer every day, and to
fund vital research
Last year, 196 cyclists raised over
$137,000 for the Prostate Cancer
Foundation and organisers are hoping
for an even bigger turn out this
year.
Finalists
announced for
NAWIC Excellence
Awards
The National Association of
Women in Construction NZ
(NAWIC) were delighted to have
received a significant increase
in entry numbers for their fifth
annual Excellence Awards, this
year in partnership with BCITO.
“We are both humbled and
inspired by the extremely high
quality of entries we received,”
says Awards’ convenor Stacey
Mendonca. “It’s wonderful
to be able to celebrate and
acknowledge some of our top
women working in the New
Zealand building and construction
industry.”
“We’re so looking forward
to celebrating the finalists’
achievements, and sharing their
incredible stories with the wider
industry,” adds president Jenny
Parker. “As the list of finalists
shows, women are positively
impacting all aspects of our
industry. The finalists’ own organisations,
communities and whanau
should be extremely proud.”
Warwick Quinn, BCITO's chief
executive, says, "The NAWIC
Awards are a testament to the
strong dedication and work ethic
of all women in construction, and
a fitting way to celebrate just a
few of their achievements. We
are proud to partner with NAWIC
for this initiative.”
“For everyone at BCITO, sharing
the recognition of high achievers
makes everything we do so
worthwhile. Congratulations to all
finalists."
Finalists in all seven categories
are:
Helen Tippett Award – Sonia
Barker, Project Director,
YMCA, Christchurch; Helen
Trappitt, Director, Lewis
Bradford Consulting Engineers,
Christchurch; Colleen Upton, Hutt
Gas and Plumbing, Lower Hutt.
Tradeswoman of the Year -
Dana Kingsbeer, Cabinetmaker,
Vogue Kitchens, Gisborne;
Jade Robertson, Director, The
Robertsons Ltd, Hamner Springs
; Jodie Wallen, Director, Wallen
Concreting, Papakura; Elizsabeth
Watson, Roof Cladder, Stone
Roofing Ltd, Hamilton
Professional Woman of the Year
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