Skip Tech is working to deliver a commercial hydrogen-bromine flow battery to address the needs of the Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES) market.

The founders have achieved a scientific breakthrough where previous attempts have failed. They are able to contain the hydrogen-bromine reaction through a patent-pending novel liquid membrane, innovative mechanical engineering, and material science.

This breakthrough allows Skip Tech to create a sustainable, scalable, and cost competitive battery that combines high energy density, customizable power output and safety better than any competitor currently on the market.

Skip Tech batteries work through a reversible electrochemical reaction that uses hydrogen bromide (HBr) as the electrolyte. HBr is split into H2 and Br2 during the charging phase when power flows into the system. The hydrogen ions react at the anode to become hydrogen gas and the bromide ions react at the cathode to become liquid bromine. During the discharging phase, the hydrogen gas and the liquid bromine are split into their corresponding ions again and release energy. The recharge cycle adds electric energy to the system and the HBr splits back into H2 and Br2. No chemicals are permanently changed or lost during this process since the batteries are closed cycle systems.

The game changing feature of the Skip Tech System is the patent pending liquid membrane that not only overcomes the most common obstacles to commercialization that were experienced by previous HBr flow-battery companies but offers several advantages over Skip Tech’s current competitors:

• Reduces system cost compared to other batteries and is long-lasting
• Utilizes more affordable chemicals that can store more energy than alternative batteries
• Boosts acidity tolerance and increases the battery’s energy capacity

The company’s patent pending liquid membrane power cell is the engine of the Skip Battery. Individual flow cells are where the chemical reactions associated with charging and discharging occur. These individual cells are combined into “stacks” of 20-40 cells depending on desired output voltage and other design requirements. Unitized stacks are then connected in serial or parallel to reach customer-specified power requirements.

The rest of the energy storage system consists of chemical holding tanks, tubes, pumps, power electronics sensors, and control systems. Storage systems can be built into multiple form factors, including standardized 20-foot shipping containers.