Aqueous Battery Brief

Crucial news for aqueous energy storage innovators

Brought to you by Octet Scientific

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April 1, 2026 • Estimated reading time: 2 – 3 minutes.

Adoption, Deals, and Tech

Comparing the Latest 100-Hour LDES

Form Energy, Noon Energy and Ore Energy have all recently announced commercialized 100-hour LDES. So how do their technologies compare? One article matches up the respective iron-air and solid oxide fuel cell architectures in areas like cost, energy density and round-trip efficiency. Read through for the detailed analysis, jump to the end for the quick-reference chart. It’s in Energy Storage News.

Quino and Jena’s Electrolyte + Hardware Tie-Up

U.S.-based organic electrolyte provider Quino Energy has signed a joint development agreement with German-based Jena Flow Batteries. Through the arrangement, Jena will optimize its storage hardware for Quino’s electrolyte.

Quino’s safe electrolyte opens new opportunities for Jena in the EU, where toxicity is highly regulated; while Jena’s hardware provides BESS avenues for Quino around the world. Learn more in PV Magazine.

From Lead-Acid Batteries to Ultra-Pure Hydrogen

A research associate at Loughborough University has developed a novel battery-electrolyser that integrates hydrogen production into a lead-acid battery system, no membranes or rare metal catalysts needed. The energy storage + hydrogen production system has demonstrated roughly 20 liters per minute of hydrogen at up to 99% purity in validation testing.

Now, the technology is being commissioned in Malawi, with further plans for installations in Côte d’Ivoire and Zambia as well.

Details in BEST.

Focus on: Nickel-Zinc for Data Centers

Watch: GP’s Green on NiZn’s Enormous Potential

GP Energy Tech’s Senior Business Development Manager, Glenn Austin Green, describes how his company’s new sub-C technology for data centers is tapping Nickel-Zinc’s enormous latent capability – and how GP combines a startup mentality with 40 years’ production expertise to realize that potential today.

It’s the latest Octet’s Aqueous Energy video series. 🎥 Watch now.

Two From ZincFive on AI

In two recent pieces – both in Intelligent CIO Middle East  – the team at ZincFive explains why AI data centers present a new set of infrastructure challenges that nickel-zinc technology is optimally suited to solve. 

• In a video interview, ZincFive CEO Tod Higinbotham talks through the ways nickel-zinc technology offers a compelling alternative to traditional chemistries and stands to reshape data center power. Watch.

• Brandon Smith, ZincFive’s VP of Global Sales and Product at, writes about how nickel-zinc solutions can support infrastructure like gigawatt-scale AI campuses in the Middle East and beyond. Read

What’s New in Research

Major Milestone for Europe’s Largest Research VRFB

Fundación Ciudad de la Energía (Ciuden), a Spanish government energy research foundation, has completed operational testing of a 1 MW/8 MWh vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) system aimed at generating technical and operational data towards VRFB industrial scalability. The Foundation says the battery is the largest dedicated applied research vanadium flow battery in Europe. PV Magazine has the story.

Electrolyte Protons Jump Bonds

Researchers at Case Western Reserve University are developing novel rechargeable flow battery electrolytes that let protons jump across bond rather than physically moving through the liquid – enabling easy proton transport, minimal volatility, and maximized safety. Read more from the Case Western University newsroom.

Mark Your Calendars

📆 Get a head start on 2026 planning with our Aqueous Energy Events Calendar in our December 29th Aqueous Battery Brief.

📌Two events in particular to keep in mind:

• Octet will be speaking at the BCI Convention + Power Mart Expo, May 3 – 6.

• EverZinc’s 4th R-Zinc conference, May 6 – 7. Details & registration.

Who’s Hiring

Seeking a new role — or know someone who is? Start with the quick links to aqueous firms’ open roles pages and specific roles below.

👩‍🔬 Open Roles Pages (Multiple Roles)

• Enzinc

• Eos

• e-Zinc

• Form Energy

• ZincFive

👨‍🔬 Specific Openings

• Æsir Technologies is looking to fill multiple engineering roles. Interested candidates should send resumes to Æsir’s Employment Page.

• Quino Energy: Sales Engineer

• Urban Electric Power: Mechanical Engineer — Battery Cell & Module Development

Have a specific open position you’d like to highlight? Send us an e-mail.

Octet Case Study: $7.5M in Projected Savings

Read how Octet identified a path to 10% greater round-trip efficiency

by testing 30+ electrolyte additives.