Innovative, Secure, and Eco-Friendly Large-Scale Energy Storage Battery Technology by SoLead Energy
SoLead Energy's Soluble Lead Flow Battery: A Promising Grid-Scale Energy Storage Solution
SoLead Energy, a spin-off from the Energy Technology Research Group at the University of Southampton, is developing a novel and affordable grid-scale battery that addresses the safety, ethical, and cost concerns associated with current lithium-ion batteries. The soluble lead flow battery (SLFB) is currently being tested in a 10-month pilot and aims to transition from the lab to utility scale as the next step towards commercialization.
The SLFB is a water-based battery that does not pose a risk of fire, a significant concern with lithium-ion batteries. At least 68 grid-scale battery systems have caught fire since 2010, with most incidents occurring within the last four years. The SLFB, on the other hand, is fully circular, sourcing materials from existing lead-acid recycling processes and being returned to the same point within these processes at end of life.
SoLead Energy's battery is a sustainable solution, as it can be sourced from existing lead-acid recycling processes, reducing the need for new material extraction. The current market leader for grid-scale batteries, lithium-ion, is difficult to recycle, making it less environmentally friendly. In contrast, the SLFB boasts a cost of £50 per kWh, almost half that of the current lithium-ion solution.
Dr Ewan Fraser, co-founder of SoLead Energy, states that lead-acid recycling processes exist at scale on every continent, enabling low-friction, rapid global adoption at a price of £50 per kWh. The SLFB is an affordable alternative to lithium-ion batteries, making it an attractive option for energy storage systems in commercial, industrial, or utility scale settings.
SoLead Energy is seeking partners and investors with experience in installing energy storage systems to help bring the SLFB to market. Energy storage needs to be integrated into electricity networks for the necessary penetration of renewable energy. The SLFB is a novel grid-scale battery that could play a crucial role in this transition to net-zero, as electricity generation moves to renewable energy sources.
The SLFB has been developed from fundamental chemistry to a 4 kWh demonstrator with over £2m in grant funding. The battery is currently being tested at Gham Power’s solar project site in Kathmandu, Nepal, where it will be evaluated for performance, reliability, and suitability for backup power, grid stabilization, and renewable integration applications under actual operating conditions.
SoLead Energy, along with its partners, is working to refine battery design, develop a battery management system integrated with energy management systems, and establish local electrolyte manufacturing processes. A dedicated research fellow position at the University of Southampton, funded by the Faraday Institution, supports this work by focusing on design refinement, control system development, data analysis, and publication to accelerate commercialization.
In summary, SoLead Energy's soluble lead flow battery is in an advanced stage of prototype validation, moving toward commercialization through international collaborations, real-world deployment, and systems integration to demonstrate its capabilities as a safe, sustainable, affordable grid-scale energy storage solution alternative to lithium-ion batteries.
[1] SoLead Energy. (n.d.). Soluble Lead Flow Battery. Retrieved from https://www.soleadenergy.com/
[2] Faraday Institution. (n.d.). SL2FBat Project. Retrieved from https://www.faraday.ac.uk/projects/sl2fbat-project
[3] Gham Power. (n.d.). Gham Power & SoLead Energy Collaborate on Lead Flow Battery for Nepal. Retrieved from https://www.ghampower.com/gham-power-solead-energy-collaborate-on-lead-flow-battery-for-nepal/
[4] Renewables Now. (2025, August 15). SoLead Energy's lead flow battery in commercialisation drive. Retrieved from https://www.renewablesnow.com/news/solead-energys-lead-flow-battery-in-commercialisation-drive-71090/
- SoLead Energy, with funding from the Faraday Institution, is focusing on refining the design of their soluble lead flow battery (SLFB) and developing a battery management system to integrate it with energy management systems.
- The SLFB is an affordable alternative to lithium-ion batteries, boasting a cost of £50 per kWh, which is almost half that of current lithium-ion solutions.
- The SLFB, a novel grid-scale battery, could be a critical component in transitioning to net-zero, as it is being tested for performance, reliability, and suitability in renewable energy applications.
- SoLead Energy is seeking partners and investors with experience in installing energy storage systems to help bring the SLFB to the market, potentially revolutionizing the energy storage industry with its sustainable, safe, and cost-effective technology.
