Charged up

Wellington-based Shalini Divya is developing lithium-free battery technology as a way to tackle energy poverty.

- carn syKes

Growing up in India, Shalini Divya recalls daily power cuts as an annoying part of city life, but she says people living in rural areas, where energy poverty is rife, have it far worse.

The Wellington-based chief executive is using that experience to fuel her vision to make renewable energy accessible for all through her company Tasmanlon, which is developing safer, more sustainable and affordable batteries based on aluminium.

From mobile phones and laptops to EVs, we rely on batteries to power everyday life, but the lithium used in the production of rechargeable batteries can be problematic. Lithium-ion batteries offer high energy output, says Divya, but lithium isn't abundant, it's costly and its mining has been linked to unsustainable practices. Lithiumion batteries also present a fire risk if they short-circuit and overheat.

"That's why it's important for researchers like us to be discovering and innovating novel battery technologies that consumers can use in certain applications instead," says the chemist-turned-company-co-founder.

Novel battery technologies are a hotbed for research and development, and TasmanIon isn't alone in exploring the potential of aluminium-ion batteries. Researchers at universities around the world are looking at the metal because of its relative abundance, recycl ability and stability.

But Divya says much of the current research focuses on developing aluminiumion batteries that also employ complex and costly nanotechnologies to deliver the high-energy output required to meet the needs of the booming EV market.