Dutch dairy farm deploys Redflow batteries

A Dutch dairy farm has deployed six Redflow ZBM2 zinc-bromine flow batteries to store self-produced solar energy that can support its milk production with sun-harvested energy.

Dubbed the Photon Farmer, the project, co-funded by European Union, aims to store solar energy for the farm’s use with six 10 kWh ZBM2 batteries. Located at Vierakker in the eastern Netherlands, the 57.5 ha, family-owned farm currently stocks 110 dairy cows. 

ICL, a global producer of bromine and supplier of the advanced zinc-bromide electrolyte used in ZBM2 batteries, proposed Redflow for the Photon Farmer project. This is Redflow’s first deployment in the Netherlands.

The Dutch energy system is based on large, central production facilities with many small users, whereas renewable energy production typically occurs at distributed locations. Currently energy is produced in line with demand, which is not possible with renewable energy. For example, a dairy farmer cannot choose to milk cows only when the sun shines or when the wind blows.

Batteries solve this problem by storing surplus renewable energy. The Photon Farmer project aims to learn if the ZBM2, with its intelligent battery management system, can optimally match supply and demand. 

Redflow’s battery is intrinsically fire safe due to its design and the fact that its bromine electrolyte is inherently non-flammable. The ZBM2 is said to be capable of 100% daily depth of discharge and delivers 10 kWh of sustained storage for 10 years. This means no loss of energy storage capacity over time, as occurs with other battery chemistries such as lithium and lead-acid.