Turning Oil Wells Into Grid-Scale Saltwater Batteries - Salgenx introduces a revolutionary way to repurpose oil wells by transforming them into large-scale saltwater flow batteries for solar energy storage

Turning Oil Wells Into Grid-Scale Saltwater Batteries

A New Era of Energy Storage

Salgenx is pioneering an innovative approach to grid-scale energy storage by transforming oil wells—active or abandoned—into high-capacity saltwater flow batteries. This breakthrough concept uses naturally occurring brine found in oil wells as the electrolyte and leverages proven chlorine redox chemistry to store and dispatch solar power with high efficiency.

As solar photovoltaic (PV) installations grow, so does the need for cost-effective, scalable storage solutions that can deliver power after sunset. Salgenx’s membrane-free chlorine flow battery technology is ideally suited to meet this challenge, and oil wells provide the perfect underground storage medium for the electrolyte.

How It Works

1. Solar Charging (Daytime):

Solar PV panels generate electricity, which powers a modular electrolysis unit installed above ground in a standard shipping container. This unit oxidizes chloride ions (Cl⁻) in the brine to produce chlorine gas (Cl₂), which is stored safely in an immiscible organic phase like oil.

2. Energy Storage:

The oil well serves as a natural reservoir for the saltwater electrolyte (brine). Chlorine gas is stored in sealed above-ground containers in oil, while sodium ions are stored in a solid-state electrode material.

3. Energy Discharge (Nighttime):

At night, the chlorine is reduced back into chloride ions, generating electricity to feed into the grid. The process is highly efficient, with round-trip energy efficiencies as high as 91 percent.

Converting Oil Wells into Saltwater Batteries

• Oil Well Reservoir: Stores natural brine (NaCl-rich water)

• Solar PV Array: Powers the electrolysis process during the day

• Electrolysis Container: Splits Cl⁻ into Cl₂ using chlorine redox flow technology

• Energy Storage Tanks: Store Cl₂ safely in an organic carrier fluid

• Nighttime Discharge Unit: Converts Cl₂ back to Cl⁻ to produce electricity

• Grid Interface: Delivers power when solar is unavailable

Technology Advantages

• Low Cost: System cost is estimated at just $100 per kWh, well below industry averages.

• High Energy Density: 125.7 Wh/L, among the highest for aqueous flow batteries.

• Membrane-Free Design: Eliminates costly ion-selective membranes by using immiscible fluid phases.

• Safe and Scalable: Modular design in sealed shipping containers, adaptable to remote or urban sites.

• Environmental Benefit: Repurposes aging oil infrastructure while reducing brine waste and emissions.

The Science Behind It

Salgenx’s saltwater battery is based on the chlorine flow battery (CFB) technology, which uses the Cl₂/Cl⁻ redox couple as the active material. Chlorine has a theoretical capacity of 755 mAh/g and demonstrates excellent stability, low cost, and fast reaction kinetics.

In this configuration, the oil well acts as the bulk electrolyte storage tank, while the electrochemical conversion processes are handled externally in modular units. This separation of storage and reaction zones enables long-duration, low-maintenance energy storage that scales with well capacity.

Applications and Potential

• Solar Energy Smoothing: Store excess solar energy during the day and dispatch it at night.

• Off-Grid Infrastructure: Provide power for rural areas, oilfields, and remote industrial operations.

• Abandoned Well Revitalization: Turn stranded oil assets into revenue-generating energy hubs.

• Environmental Remediation: Reduce the risk of brine spills and give new purpose to fossil-era infrastructure.

Conclusion

Salgenx’s saltwater flow battery is not just another battery. It’s a platform for transforming legacy energy infrastructure into clean energy storage systems. By utilizing the vast network of oil wells as brine reservoirs, this system unlocks a new path toward sustainable, affordable, and scalable grid energy storage.

TEL: 1-608-238-6001 Email: greg@salgenx.com

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CONTACT TEL: +1 608-238-6001 (Chicago Time Zone) Email: greg@salgenx.com (Standard Web Page) | PDF