Superdielectrics water-based zinc battery outperforms lithium-ion battery in high-power tests, delivering up to 13x longer cycle life, a quicker charge, with zero thermal runaway risk.

Test results support the development of SuperDielectrics’ rack-level data centre product, which is designed to address the power fluctuation challenges posed by AI workloads.

SuperDielectrics has announced independent test results of its next-generation water-based zinc battery, confirming superior performance across safety, cycle life, and charge and discharge speed in high power applications, compared to both standard and next-generation phosphate-based lithium-ion batteries. The testing was carried out by leading UK defence and security company, QinetiQ.

SuperDielectrics’ core innovation is a unique patented polymer, which has produced breakthrough results when tested against like-for-like standard and next-generation lithium-ion single-layer cells. The results were clear: there was no thermal runaway (a battery fire caused by uncontrollable self-heating), fire, or explosion under abuse conditions.

At 0°C, the results showed that charge performance was ~48x better (20C, which is 3 minutes). At room temperature, the results showed:

• up to 13x longer cycle life under high-power cycling (10 mins charge and discharge, 100% depth of discharge);
• discharge performance was ~10x better (maintained >85% nominal capacity, achieved at 100C, or 36 seconds); and
• charge performance was ~8x better (maintained >70% nominal capacity, achieved at 50C, or 1 minute 12 seconds).

The “twin transitions” of AI-driven computing and clean energy are creating unprecedented demands on power infrastructure. SuperDielectrics’ battery is designed to address these challenges by delivering fast-response power smoothing that manages significant power fluctuations introduced by intermittent renewable energy and high workloads across data centres. SuperDielectrics’ battery will reduce strain on electrical infrastructure, mitigating the risk of blackouts and brownouts, and enabling data centre operators to maintain stable power delivery without resorting to energy-intensive smoothing practices.

While lithium-ion batteries have been optimised for energy density to support long-range electric vehicles and long-duration grid storage, their performance degrades under highly fluctuating operating conditions, often requiring larger battery energy storage infrastructure to manage demand. In contrast, SuperDielectrics’ technology is specifically designed to absorb and respond to these rapid power variations.

Moreover, while lithium-ion batteries are well-suited to perform longer-duration storage and backup functions, they are ideally located outside data centres and at safe distances from critical infrastructure and residential areas. In contrast, SuperDielectrics’ batteries are being designed to provide a power-smoothing layer, co-located with data centre racks and other mission-critical equipment, with zero risk of thermal runaway.

These independent test results provide a strong foundation for SuperDielectrics as it enters its next phase of growth, focused on securing strategic customer partnerships and building its Faraday 3 battery for the company’s first deployment under commercial conditions early next year.

Jane Hunter, CEO, SuperDielectrics, said: “SuperDielectrics has a UK-designed, globally scalable technology for a future rack-level and grid-scale power buffering solution, enabling safer, lower-cost and higher-density AI compute infrastructure and grid stabilisation capability compared to lithium-ion. This strengthens UK leadership in critical enabling technologies. Where lithium-ion is reaching its performance limits, adding SuperDielectrics batteries can enable our customers to deliver the same power with a fraction of the energy footprint – safer, smaller, and at significantly lower cost.”

Shelley Brown, CTO, SuperDielectrics, said: “These results provide independent benchmarking of the technology at the heart of our batteries: a proprietary polymer separator that combines rapid ion transport with the safety advantages of an aqueous electrolyte system. The outcome is an energy storage solution purpose-built for high-power, fast-cycling applications, offering an alternative to lithium-ion systems that typically rely on extensive oversizing and additional safety infrastructure to manage demanding power profiles.”

Superdielectrics has launched its next generation aqueous polymer battery, marking a significant technological upgrade.  Introducing the Faraday 2.

This launch marks a major milestone in the company’s mission to revolutionise energy storage with a safer, more sustainable, and cost-effective alternative to traditional lithium-ion batteries. The Faraday 2 builds on the success of the Faraday 1 prototype, being a major step towards the offering of a fridge-sized residential energy storage unit capable of reducing household electricity bills by 85% or more.

Developed from advances in contact lens polymers, Superdielectrics’ internationally patented technology uses abundant, non-toxic materials and contains no critical or rare earth metals. With a full charge time of just 30 minutes, significantly faster than a traditional battery, the Faraday 2 is designed to store surplus renewable energy efficiently, enabling flexible tariffs and greater energy independence for homes. This innovation addresses the growing need for scalable energy storage across Europe’s rapidly expanding renewable energy sector, and also offers a transformative solution to lower electricity costs, enhancing energy security.

Key advantages of the Faraday 2 include:

• Safe: Unlike lithium-ion batteries, approximately 50% of the technology is water-based, eliminating the risk of thermal runaway which is a fire-safety hazard.
• Low cost: The technology does not rely on critical metals making its materials cheaper than lithium-ion batteries with securer supply chains.
• Sustainability: Built with readily available, materials that are easily recyclable.
• Long lifecycle: Potential for even longer use than existing batteries.
• Energy density potential: Currently outperforming lead-acid batteries and with ongoing R&D efforts to surpass currently available lithium-ion energy storage capacity in the future.

Jim Heathcote, CEO of Superdielectrics, commented:

“The launch of Faraday 2 is a major step towards a low cost and clean energy future, as well as a key milestone for us as we work towards a commercial product. As the world shifts towards renewable energy, storage is the technological bottleneck. Our technology is low cost, safe and recyclable, helping the world in the global transition to sustainable energy.”

Julian Lennertz, Chief Commercial Officer at E.ON Next, commented:

“The transition to cleaner energy is about making that energy more affordable and sustainable, and our partnership with Superdielectrics is one of a huge number of ways we are working to help customers take control of their energy by making energy storage widely available. We are delighted to be a part of the Superdielectrics journey, sharing insight into how millions of customers use energy and what they need to benefit from a smarter energy system. The launch of Faraday 2 is an important milestone in the evolution of battery design using readily available materials – and is yet another world-leading innovation designed and developed in the UK.”

The sustainable electrical energy storage specialist secures Suite 2 in the Science Village

Cambridge, UK, 15 February 2021: Chesterford Research Park is delighted to welcome material research company Superdielectrics to the Park’s prestigious Science Village.

Superdielectrics is developing high energy density, low cost, low environmental impact electrical energy storage devices that will help create a clean and sustainable global energy and transportation system. Supercapacitors store energy using electrodes and electrolytes and both charge and deliver energy quickly, unlike conventional batteries which perform the same task in a much slower way with the added hazard of end-of-life waste. Superdielectrics’ supercapacitors are safe, fast, contain no rare materials or conflict metals and have the added benefit of reducing pollution and waste.

Superdielectrics join fellow Science Village occupiers including Diagnostics for the Real World, Camena Bioscience and Oxford Nanopore in this energy-efficient, high-quality building, so stimulating company is guaranteed.

Jim Heathcote, CEO, Superdielectrics said: “Superdielectrics Ltd is delighted to have taken research and development laboratories at Chesterford Research Park. We are developing a completely clean and sustainable energy system using our unique high energy density supercapacitor materials.

“We are driven by strong environmental and social values which are shared by Chesterford Research Park. These are exciting times as we strive to tackle fundamental scientific problems that could reduce global poverty and starvation while cleaning up the environment.”

Chesterford Research Park provides an innovative and future-proofed environment for both established and early-stage biotechnology and pharmaceutical research and development companies. In addition to Superdielectrics, the Park is home to technology and life science innovators including Arecor, AstraZeneca, Lonza, Charles River Laboratories, Cambridge Epigenetix, Domainex and Oncologica.

Julian Cobourne, Senior Asset Manager, Aviva Investors, joint owners of Chesterford Research Park with Uttlesford District Council added: “I am thrilled that the innovative team at Superdielectrics will be continuing their ground-breaking work at Chesterford Research Park. With its focus on sustainability and the environment, Superdielectrics’ aims are complementary to that of the Park.

“Integral to the Cambridge biotech cluster, Chesterford Research Park continues to attract leading bioscience ventures. The fitted nature of the Science Village remains extremely popular with companies seeking ‘plug and play’ facilities, which negates the requirement for a protracted and sometimes expensive fit-out process. Superdielectrics are in good company in this truly unique setting with stunning natural parkland surroundings.”