Hindustan Zinc Limited on Wednesday announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), to develop new variants of zinc materials to propel the commercialization of zinc-based batteries.
The partnership between Hindustan Zinc and JNCASR marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of battery technologies, leveraging zinc’s abundant resource availability, cost effectiveness and sustainable practices, the company said. At present, lithium-ion batteries dominate the market but lithium availability, geographic concentration of mineral processing, and concerns around safety relating to combustion issues pose some key challenges to the advancement of sustainable energy solutions. Above all, lithium is far costlier (more than four times) compared to zinc which is much more affordable.
Zinc-based batteries are better alternatives due to its properties like long duration storage, cost-effectiveness, durability and proven safety track record. These batteries have proven dependable and successful in the high-end defence sector (including aerospace and marine), renewable energy and critical infrastructure for data centres and 5G telecom, etc.
This collaboration will focus on the research and development of Zinc alloys as anodes for Zinc Ion and Zinc Air batteries, developing electrolytes for high performance Zinc alloy anodes, and designing & developing chemical processes for recycling Zinc metal-based batteries.
Arun Misra, CEO of Hindustan Zinc Limited, said, “This collaboration demonstrates our crucial role in catering to the increasing demand for alternative energy solutions by being an active contributor of critical raw materials for the development of emerging clean technologies.”
By entering into research, Hindustan Zinc aims to accelerate the transition to sustainable energy solutions, as zinc is crucial across the value chain of all critical industries like steel, renewable energy, battery storage solutions, electricals & electronic components and mobility.
Prof. Premkumar Senguttuvan’s team at JNCASR, renowned for their cutting-edge materials research, will work closely with Hindustan Zinc to pioneer solutions that enhance the performance and reliability of zinc-based batteries. Since its inception, JNCASR has generated over 350 patents and promoted establishment of a few startups based on indigenous inventions.
Prof. Sreenivas, Dean R&D of JNCASR, said, “Prof. Premkumar Senguttuvan, brings extensive expertise in battery technology, with significant experience in lithium, sodium, and zinc-based systems. His research has leveraged the unique benefits of these elements for energy storage applications. Zinc’s widespread availability, minimal environmental impact, cost-effectiveness, and safety characteristics position it as a key player in advancing sustainable energy solutions. Prof. Senguttuvan’s proposed work in zinc-based battery technologies, in collaboration with Hindustan Zinc, holds the potential to make significant contributions to a more sustainable and resilient energy future.”