Udaipur (Daily Kiran): Hindustan Zinc, the world’s largest and India’s only integrated producer of zinc, lead and silver, in collaboration with the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), has developed stable and reliable zinc-ion battery pouch cell prototypes for large-scale renewable energy storage. This development marks an important milestone in India’s indigenous research in energy storage technology.
Due to the abundance, low cost, and wide availability of zinc resources, zinc-ion batteries are emerging as strong contenders for stationary energy storage. While achieving long cycle life and high energy density remains a key challenge, the collaboration between Hindustan Zinc and JNCASR is addressing this by developing low-cost electrolyte formulations and stable zinc-ion battery prototypes suitable for large-scale deployment. These advancements demonstrate the potential of zinc-ion batteries for safe and efficient renewable energy storage.
With support from Hindustan Zinc, researchers at JNCASR are working on cost-effective electrolyte formulations and developing zinc-ion battery pouch cell prototypes. The newly formulated electrolytes improve stability and enable longer cycle life. The prototypes have been evaluated under real-world testing conditions, including solar energy capture and release profiles, highlighting their suitability for renewable energy applications.
Commenting on the development, Hindustan Zinc Limited CEO and Whole-time Director Arun Misra said that zinc-ion battery technology presents a significant opportunity to leverage India’s abundant zinc resources for energy transition. He stated that the partnership with JNCASR reflects the company’s commitment to enabling safe, cost-effective, and scalable energy storage solutions that can support the growing integration of renewable energy.
Although zinc-ion batteries currently have lower performance metrics compared to lithium-ion batteries, they offer distinct advantages such as enhanced safety, lower material costs, and non-flammable aqueous electrolytes, making them suitable for large-scale and long-duration deployment.
JNCASR Associate Professor Prem Senthuttuvan said that zinc batteries hold strong promise for sustainable and safe energy storage. He added that the partnership with Hindustan Zinc demonstrates JNCASR’s commitment to impactful industry-academia collaboration, strengthening indigenous research capabilities and contributing to reliable, India-centric solutions for clean energy transition.
Hindustan Zinc aims to accelerate the shift towards sustainable energy solutions, as zinc plays a vital role across industries including steel, renewable energy, battery storage, electrical and electronic components, and mobility. Through the development of next-generation zinc materials and its partnership with JNCASR, the company is working towards building a safer, greener, and more self-reliant energy future for India.
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