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Queensland-headquartered Redflow has announced its new third generation ‘Gen3’ flow battery – the ZBM3 – is (finally) ready for commercial sale.

Redflow says production of the world’s smallest commercially available zinc bromine flow battery commenced at its Thailand manufacturing facility this week. Even smaller, simpler and more compatible than previous iterations of the battery, it has been designed for small commercial installations to large ” GWh-scale” commercial applications.

Redflow CEO Tim Harris says the Thailand facility can scale to up to 80 MWh of ZBM3 battery production per annum (which would be 8,000 units a year) – so there won’t be any ” GWh-scale” installations for a while.

“Importantly, the Gen3 battery enables Redflow to operate at a competitive price that will deliver further benefits as production scales,” stated Mr. Harris.

It’s been a long and rather bumpy road to this point for Redflow. Gen3 battery customer trials began in 2020 and in February last year, Redflow anticipated commencing commercial production in Thailand during 2021. But impacts from COVID, including staff absences due to infection, material supply and equipment servicing delays, put paid to those plans.

We mentioned in December that in September 2021, Redflow’s revised program forecast the introduction of Gen3 into production in Q4 of FY22. So, they weren’t far off the (revised) mark and no doubt there has been a collective sigh of relief from the Redflow team.

Among the other features of the ZBM3 is the battery can be left at 100% state of charge for months and started up rapidly. The ZBM3 can also operate in ambient temperatures of 10°C-50°C.

Redflow says a smaller stack design and a bi-directional DC-DC converter built into the Battery Control Module (BCM) enables flexibility of energy flow of 0-60 volts, making it compatible with a wide range of applications without requiring any external voltage conversion. The battery also boasts a new tank design and cooling system. Additionally, all battery components and electrolyte are either recycled or repurposed at end of life.

The ZBM3 datasheet is available here.

Redflow used to produce a home battery called the ZCell1 that was based on a ZBM predecessor, the ZBM2. However, there’s no mention of a ZCell in the company’s latest product line-up – just the ZBM3 and Energy Pod; which is designed to hold 20  ZBM3 flow batteries.

Redflow says the new Gen3 will play an important role in supporting the company’s expansion in the United States and Australia, and the first delivery of batteries is expected next month.

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Michael caught the solar power bug after purchasing components to cobble together a small off-grid PV system in 2008. He's been reporting on Australian and international solar energy news ever since.

So without the Zcell is this ZBM3 intended for domestic as well as commercial use? For a long while is seems the RedFlow have not shown much interest in selling their products to the average punter. I have tried a few times to contact one of RedFlow’s recommended 3rd party installers, but my enquiries were met with strong persuasion tactics to buy one of their alternative battery brand/type.

I had the same response from the QLD Redflow reseller.

Didn’t matter in the end – it turns out that Energex rules don’t allow me to install an AC-coupled battery system (Redflow, or Tesla Powerwall for that matter). Why? Well Energex has a 10 kW per phase inverter limit. I’m on single phase, and have a large solar system with a 10 kW inverter. Energex counts battery inverters in its calculation, so I can’t add any AC-coupled battery system, which is most systems. Of course I could upgrade to a 3-phase connection (not needed) but I’ve had an estimate of around $15k just for running the power lines to our house (we are several hundred metres from the street) not including that Energex may want us to pay for upgrading the transformer on the nearest pole to take our additional load (which would actually be negative).

The irony is that installing the battery would reduce strain on the grid because I would be sending less solar to the grid during the “duck curve” day hours, and using less power from the grid during the evening peak.

ZCell was basically a marketing thing – ZBM + enclosure. So no real difference if you get a ZBM today (with an enclosure if you need it – they make one suitable for outdoor installations).

Well the handball is all I got with still no response. My question is I would like to know can it be used as a mobile unit.

Yes I understand it needs a vast array of solar panels which will limit the charge rate capacity. I have a DC – DC direct charger when on the move, and when the wind is blowing I have a windturbine. My solar array is barely 1kw

So Hello is anyone there ?

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