A scalable, low-cost solution for long-term energy storage
We speak to Tim von Werne of RFC Power about his company’s low-cost flow battery system. RFC Power was a New Energy Challenge runner-up in 2020.
Making it easier for commercial partners to buy into the concept ultimately increases the chances of this technology becoming a world-leading energy storage solution.
How would you describe your technology and what it does?
We have developed a lower-cost, very scalable solution for longer-duration energy storage.
Our technology uses globally abundant, ultra-low-cost materials combined with bulk chemical storage to provide a bulk energy storage solution.
What did the NEC mean for the company?
It was very useful for us. It enabled us to build contacts within Shell and across the energy start-up community. We were a technology spin-out from a university, and being involved with the NEC made us look beyond the technology to its commercial aspects and to identify real business opportunities. It allowed us to build relationships with people who would become our champions within the Shell technology team and the Shell Ventures team. Being able to reference Shell’s financial support in this technology has helped us build credibility with stakeholders and potential investors.
What kinds of things have you done as a result?
Through Shell GameChanger, we’re really focused on working with the subject-matter experts at Shell to identify potential areas of risk with either the engineering or the scale-up process. For example, we have been de-risking the technology in ways that will make it easier for venture capital companies to invest. Making it easier for commercial partners to buy into the concept increases the chances of this technology becoming a world-leading energy storage solution.
Did the Shell GameChanger process make you think differently about what you were doing?
Yes, absolutely. Through the NEC and the GameChanger project, our focus was on the technology and proving it worked. Over the past three years, we have really started to scale up. Last year, we commissioned our first standalone technology demonstrator fully integrated energy storage system.
We have come all the way through the scaleup journey. I think when we engaged with the NEC, we were at the early end of what the NEC normally deals with – about technical readiness level (TRL) 4. Now we’re around TRL 7 and in the planning stages to build our first megawatt-hour-scale pilot system, which we aim to have operational by the end of 2026.
What are your next steps in developing the technology or the business?
We are focusing on pilot-scale opportunities in the UK. The UK is a very good place to be developing and deploying energy storage technologies. The government has been quite advanced in exploring new funding and support mechanisms and establishing market structures that will help new technologies succeed. The reality is we are a small start-up business, and to manufacture and deploy at the megawatt scale we will need the buy-in from corporate partners who operate in this space.
What advice would you give to a company that wins this year?
Take full advantage of the opportunity – this is your chance on the big stage. Try to make connections that will help you build long-term success. It’s not just about winning a competition: it’s about building relationships. And make sure you enjoy it!
