IIT Madras and Hindustan Zinc partner to develop zinc-air battery

The Indian Institute of Madras (IIT-M) and Hindustan Zinc have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly develop a 1 kWh electrically rechargeable zinc-air battery prototype. Zinc-air batteries, known for their long-duration storage, durability, and affordability compared to lithium-ion batteries, are emerging as a promising alternative in energy storage. Zinc, a more cost-effective material than lithium, offers significant advantages in performance and economic viability.

Arun Misra, CEO of Hindustan Zinc, highlighted zinc’s crucial role in the global energy transition, while Professor Aravind Kumar Chandiran, head of Hyundai Hydrogen Innovation Hub at IIT Madras, emphasized the collaboration’s potential to create innovative energy storage solutions for electric vehicles (EVs) and stationary storage systems. Chandiran’s team has developed a prototype rechargeable zinc-air battery and holds three Indian patents for innovations in the technology.