Underhyped Tech - Organic Flow Batteries
This is a deep dive into one of our nine underhyped frontier technologies for development.
The full exploration will be released on April 23rd. Sign up to the launch event here.
Storing renewable energy for longer, without mined metals
Organic flow batteries offer a fresh take on energy storage—safe, scalable, and surprisingly sustainable. Instead of relying on scarce metals, they use carbon-based molecules and liquid electrolytes to store and release power. That means fewer supply chain risks, lower toxicity, and longer lifespans. These batteries are especially useful for managing renewable energy, supporting microgrids, and bringing reliable power to off-grid communities. While still emerging, they’re already showing promise where conventional batteries fall short.
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One of the key advantages of organic flow batteries is their ability to last much longer than conventional batteries. While lithium-ion batteries degrade over time and need to be replaced, flow batteries can be recharged almost indefinitely by simply replacing the liquid electrolyte, making them a more sustainable and cost-effective option for long-term energy storage.
These batteries are particularly useful for storing renewable energy from sources like solar panels and wind turbines. Because renewable energy generation is not always constant—such as when the sun sets or the wind stops blowing—organic flow batteries can store excess energy when production is high and release it when needed. This helps stabilise the energy supply and ensures that communities and businesses have reliable power, even when generation slows down.
Another benefit of organic flow batteries is their scalability. Unlike traditional batteries, where capacity is fixed, the storage capacity of flow batteries can be increased simply by expanding the size of the electrolyte tanks. This makes them a flexible option for everything from small rural microgrids to large-scale power stations.
These characteristics make organic flow batteries a promising alternative for off-grid communities, rural electrification, and areas where traditional battery technologies are too expensive or difficult to maintain. By offering a safer, more sustainable, and locally adaptable energy storage solution, they have the potential to transform energy access, especially in regions that rely on unreliable or polluting sources of power.
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Microgrids & Community Power: Supports distributed renewable energy systems in rural areas.
Long-Duration Energy Storage: Unlike lithium-ion batteries, flow batteries can provide sustained energy discharge for multiple hours or days.
Grid-Scale Renewable Energy Integration: OFBs allow for smooth integration of solar and wind power, stabilising the grid by storing excess energy during peak production times.
Disaster Resilience: Provides backup energy for hospitals, water treatment, and emergency services.
Safer & Non-Toxic Alternative: Organic electrolytes reduce the fire hazards and toxicity risks associated with metal-based batteries.
Scalable & Modular: The power and storage capacity of OFBs can be independently scaled, making them suitable for various applications, from microgrids to industrial facilities.
Longer Lifespan & Lower Degradation: Unlike conventional batteries, OFBs experience minimal capacity fade, resulting in extended operational lifetimes.
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Current battery technology is dominated by lithium-ion solutions, which are expensive, environmentally damaging, and reliant on scarce materials such as lithium and cobalt—both subject to geopolitical and supply chain issues.
Organic Flow Batteries (OFBs) present a sustainable alternative, using non-metallic, carbon-based molecules dissolved in electrolytes, making them cheaper, safer, and easier to source locally. Despite their potential, they are still overlooked in favour of metal-based storage systems and lack investment in large-scale deployment, particularly in off-grid and rural electrification projects.
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Sustainable & Non-Toxic: Uses biodegradable organic compounds instead of heavy metals, reducing toxicity and promoting a circular economy.
No Resource Conflicts: Avoids reliance on rare minerals like lithium and cobalt, which are often extracted under exploitative conditions in the Global South.
Locally Scalable Solutions: Can potentially be produced, maintained, and repaired within local communities, fostering job creation and reducing dependence on imports.
Stable Long-Duration Energy Storage: OFBs enable cost-effective, long-duration storage, providing a steady energy supply even during periods of low renewable energy generation.
Extended Cycling Lifetime: Unlike lithium-ion batteries, OFBs do not degrade significantly over repeated charge-discharge cycles, enabling thousands of cycles with minimal capacity loss.
Stationary Storage for Renewable Energy: Ideal for supporting solar, wind, and hybrid energy systems.
Adaptability to Different Applications: Their modular design allows easy scaling for various energy storage needs, from small microgrids to large industrial applications.
Non-Flammable & Low-Risk Operation: Safer than lithium-ion batteries, making them particularly suitable for community energy projects, industrial use, and residential storage.
Customisable Storage: Electrolyte tanks can be expanded to increase storage capacity without replacing the entire system, allowing flexible adaptation to energy demands.
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Energy Density Trade-offs: While scalable, OFBs have lower volumetric energy density than lithium-ion batteries, requiring larger tanks for the same storage capacity
Electrolyte Stability & Degradation: Organic compounds degrade over time, impacting efficiency. Research is improving molecular stability and reversible degradation to enhance performance
Initial Capital Costs: While OFBs can be more cost-effective in the long term, high upfront costs may slow adoption, particularly in resource-limited regions.
Limited Research & Manufacturing Capacity: Large-scale production facilities are scarce, limiting widespread innovation and reducing economies of scale.
Temperature Sensitivity: Some organic electrolytes perform poorly in extreme heat or cold, making them less viable in certain climates without additional thermal regulation.
Ecosystem Saturation: Even with biodegradable materials, excessive deployment could lead to unintended environmental impacts if waste management is not considered.
Pumping System Reliability: Since OFBs rely on liquid circulation, mechanical components require regular maintenance, which may add operational complexity.
Limited High-Power Output: Organic redox molecules tend to have slower reaction kinetics than metal-based systems, impacting fast discharge capabilities.
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Green Chemistry Innovations: Advances in biodegradable, non-toxic electrolytes improve sustainability and reduce environmental impact.
Localised Manufacturing & Open-Source Designs: Encourages regional production, reducing dependence on global supply chains and making technology more accessible.
Scalable Grid Integration: Easily integrates with solar, wind, and hybrid energy systems, enabling more resilient and decentralised power networks.
Circular Economy Potential: OFBs can be refurbished, repurposed, and recycled, significantly reducing battery waste and resource depletion.
Corporate Interest: As energy storage is a critical component of the renewable energy transition, increasing investment is driving research and innovation.
Affordable Materials: Recent advancements focus on using abundant and inexpensive organic compounds, making production more feasible for developing regions.
Molecular Modelling & AI-Driven Design: Machine learning accelerates the discovery of more efficient electrolyte formulations by simulating molecular interactions for optimised energy storage.
Modular & Scalable Design: Allows for independent power and capacity scaling, enabling tailored energy storage solutions for households, industries, and off-grid communities.
Reversible Redox Cycling: Recent breakthroughs enable some organic compounds to be regenerated electrically, reducing degradation over time.
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Lack of Policy Support: Energy storage incentives and subsidies still overwhelmingly favour lithium-ion and vanadium-based technologies, limiting OFB adoption.
Limited Investment: Funding for alternative battery chemistries remains low, slowing commercialisation and large-scale deployment.
Lack of Local Expertise: Training programmes and technical infrastructure for OFB installation and maintenance are underdeveloped, particularly in the Global South.
Competition from Metal-Based Batteries: Established vanadium and lithium flow batteries dominate industrial applications due to their proven performance and existing supply chains.
Manufacturing Complexity: Current OFB production requires specialised equipment that may not be readily available in lower-income regions, making local manufacturing difficult.
Energy Efficiency Challenges: While recent innovations have improved energy efficiency, these advancements are still emerging and not yet widely accessible.
Limited Commercial Availability: Most organic flow batteries remain in the research or pilot phase, with only a few commercially available options.
Lack of Standardisation: The absence of industry-wide protocols for organic electrolytes and materials hinders compatibility, scalability, and regulatory approval.
Uncertain Market Demand: OFBs remain an emerging technology, with lower commercial adoption compared to lithium-ion storage solutions.
Curious examples: what’s already happening?
Case Study no. 1
Harvard’s Organic Flow Battery Breakthrough: Extending Battery Lifespan and Reducing Costs - Prototype
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Redox flow batteries (RFBs) offer a promising solution for large-scale energy storage, particularly for integrating renewable energy sources into the grid. However, organic redox-active molecules (RAOMs)—which enable metal-free, sustainable flow batteries—suffer from degradation over time, leading to capacity fade and reduced battery performance. This limits their long-term feasibility and economic viability compared to conventional lithium-ion or vanadium-based systems.
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A research team at Harvard University’s Aziz Group has developed a novel approach to mitigate degradation in aqueous organic redox flow batteries (AORFBs). By analysing the decomposition mechanisms of organic electrolytes, the team has designed methods to restore lost capacity and extend battery lifetimes far beyond previous limits. Their work has:
✔️ Reduced capacity fade by a factor of 40, significantly improving battery longevity.
✔️ Developed a "zombie quinone" molecule, capable of reversing degradation and regenerating charge capacity.
✔️ Implemented high-throughput electrochemical testing to rapidly screen and optimise new RAOMs.
✔️ Standardised cycling protocols and temperature control methods, enhancing measurement accuracy and long-term reliability.
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Extends the lifespan of organic flow batteries, making them a more viable alternative for large-scale energy storage.
Lowers costs by enabling batteries to use abundant, low-cost organic materials instead of rare metals like vanadium.
Supports renewable energy integration by providing longer-lasting, grid-scale storage solutions.
Enhances sustainability by reducing reliance on resource-intensive materials and increasing battery recyclability.
Advances the commercial viability of metal-free, organic flow batteries, paving the way for widespread adoption.
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Case Study no. 2
A Scalable and Sustainable Energy Storage Solution - Product/Service
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The transition to renewable energy requires scalable, safe, and cost-effective energy storage solutions. However, conventional battery technologies, such as lithium-ion and vanadium redox flow batteries, face challenges related to high costs, safety risks, resource scarcity, and environmental concerns. Additionally, the rapidly increasing demand for batteries in electric mobility is creating supply chain bottlenecks, further limiting the availability of critical materials.
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CMBlu’s Organic SolidFlow battery introduces a groundbreaking approach to energy storage by replacing metal-based electrolytes with fully recyclable, organic carbon-based molecules. This hybrid solid-state and flow battery design enables long-duration energy storage, making it ideal for large-scale grid applications. This novel battery system offers:
✔️ Scalable design with independent power and capacity adjustments.
✔️ Low-cost materials using abundant, carbon-based electrolytes.
✔️ Non-flammable composition for safe operation in any environment.
✔️ Extended lifespan with high cycle durability and minimal degradation.
✔️ Fully recyclable components to reduce battery waste.
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Supports the integration of renewable energy by providing stable, long-term storage for solar and wind power.
Reduces reliance on critical and rare materials, fostering a more ethical and sustainable supply chain.
Enhances energy security by minimising dependence on lithium and vanadium imports.
Improves safety in energy storage by eliminating flammable and toxic components.
Promotes circular economy principles through recyclable and reusable battery components.
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Other interesting cases
Superfast conductor for powerful batteries (USA) - Research
Human cells are inspiring the next generation of energy storage.
Two companies are teaming up to commercialize organic flow batteries (USA) - Prototype
Their battery solutions have been shown to experience zero degradation, even after 20,000 cycles.
VoltStorage (Germany) - Startup
A startup that focuses on residential and commercial energy storage solutions using iron-salt-based redox flow batteries.
CarbeniumTec (USA) - Startup
It focuses on developing efficient, sustainable energy storage solutions with its metal-free, non-toxic organic flow battery technology.
Flux XII (USA) - Startup
Their energy storage technology is sustainable and adaptable, utilizing synthetically engineered organic molecules and pH-neutral water for long-duration grid storage.
Large-scale organic flow batteries (Sweden) - Startup
Organic electrolytes for flow batteries make large-scale energy storage cost-effective and eco-friendly.
Kemiwatt (France) - Startup
Industrial flow battery with biodegradable and recyclable organic molecules.
Kinergizer energy harvesters (Netherlands) - Product/Service
They convert motion into electricity that powers wireless sensors.
Supporting remote telecom applications (USA) - Research
Storing solar energy for industrial use where the grid can't reach.
Organic polymers and a harmless saline solution (Germany) - Prototype
Produced at a much lower cost while nearly reaching the capacity of traditional systems.
Using synthetic polypeptides (USA) - Research
Researchers have taken the first steps toward constructing batteries that process proteins as energy, just like humans.
Water-based organic battery (USA) - Prototype
Long lasting, and built from cheap eco-friendly components.
A new liquid battery that uses a so-called Methuselah molecule (USA) - Research
Researchers have created an organic flow battery that outlives and outperforms its predecessors.
Organic Flow Battery at 99.95% capacity after 850 cycles (China) - Prototype
A breakthrough creating innovations that help achieve significant numbers in aqueous flow batteries.
Sugar-boosting power of Flow Batteries (USA) - Research
By optimizing the chemical ratios in the system, the researchers achieved a 60% increase in peak power.
Future scenarios: what might happen in 2035?
As part of our exploration of these nine underhyped technologies, our partners at Pluriversa conducted a foresight exercise to consider possible futures and anticipate the challenges and opportunities within each technology. The exercise produced four scenarios for the year 2035, which you can read here, along with speculative use cases - with different potential outcomes - for each technology. Read on to explore potential future scenarios involving organic flow batteries.
2035: Local Landscaping
Inspired by the city of Copenhagen’s famous Amager Bakke, large super-efficient organic flow batteries can be used to create electricity-storage sites that can transform a city’s landscape. This helps push forward projects related to local renewable energy, and it repurposes space for social causes where it would have otherwise been dedicated to industrial ends.
This marvel of architecture and engineering has become a symbol of the power of innovation to drive a transition towards a more socially conscious use of technology. The structure, highly adaptable to local environments, can serve multiple purposes, from music amphitheatres to children’s parks.
Surveys show that people see organic flow battery landscaping in a positive light. They consider sustainable technologies should integrate into a city’s dynamics, and there is no better way to do that than through organic flow battery landscaping.
2035: Lowering the costs of EVs
Although an increase in EVs sounds like a positive thing, the reality is that, by making them cheaper, the problem of cars and everything of the traditional development models they represent has remained intact. The energy-intensive processes and materials used to fabricate them, as well as the amount of urban space they take, remain issues to deal with.
Smaller, lighter, and more affordable batteries for EVs that use organic flow batteries mean that more people can afford cars. This, although not exempt from positive aspects, also means that a lot of resources continue to be dedicated to this individualistic form of transport.
Given the positive narrative surrounding EVs, everyone wants to have one, creating a tragedy of the commons. Affordability, in this case, has turned out to be a problem.
Final thoughts
If you’re working on renewable energy, rural electrification, disaster resilience, or grid stability, organic flow batteries could offer a new kind of energy storage—one that’s cleaner, safer, and easier to adapt locally.
Some ideas to explore next:
Could OFBs support community-owned microgrids powered by solar or wind?
How might locally sourced electrolytes reduce import costs and create new value chains?
Are there universities or labs working in your area developing open-source designs for off-grid use?
How could partnerships help lower upfront costs and bring this tech to scale?
Organic flow batteries aren’t widely adopted—yet. But for regions looking to leapfrog extractive energy systems, they offer a promising path forward.
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Performance Testing of Zinc-Bromine Flow Batteries for Remote Telecom Sites
An aqueous, polymer-based redox-flow battery using non-corrosive, safe, and low-cost materials
High-Voltage, Room-Temperature Liquid Metal Flow Battery Enabled by Na-K|K-β″-Alumina Stability
Development of organic redox‐active materials in aqueous flow batteries
Air-stable naphthalene derivative-based electrolytes for sustainable aqueous flow batteries
Proton-regulated alcohol oxidation for high-capacity ketone-based flow battery anolyte
Proton-regulated alcohol oxidation for high-capacity ketone-based flow battery anolyte
Powering up the Future: Radical Polymers for Battery Applications
A Metal-Free and Biotically Degradable Battery for Portable Single-Use Applications
All-Organic Battery Composed of Thianthrene- and TCAQ-Based Polymers
Local Chemical Enhancement and Gating of Organic Coordinated Ionic-Electronic Transport
Organic redox flow batteries in non-aqueous electrolyte solutions
Perspective on organic flow batteries for large-scale energy storage
Organic materials in flow batteries: an ocean of possibilities for sustainability
This is a deep dive into one of our nine underhyped frontier technologies for development.
The full exploration will be released on April 23rd. Sign up to the launch event here.