JOURNEY STARTSIron-flow batteries were developed decades ago but have yet to be deployed as a grid-scale energy storage solution. ESI Managing Director Stuart Parry believes iron-flow batteries are an idea whose "time has come." Parry doesn't see iron-flow batteries replacing lithium-ion units, rather they are complementary with lithium batteries able to arbitrage power prices by acting rapidly, while iron-flow units are more likely to act as baseload firming for the grid when renewables tail off. Parry also says iron-flow batteries work out about a third cheaper than lithium ion units when looking at the cost on a MWh basis. On the surface, iron-flow batteries seem like a solid solution to how to run an electricity grid dominated by variable renewables.

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Persons: Stuart Parry, Parry, Lincoln Organizations: Stanwell Corp, Energy Storage Industries Asia, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Greenough, Walkaway, Perth, Australia, LAUNCESTON, Queensland, Rockhampton