SuperDielectrics, a Cambridge-based energy storage technology company, has revealed the independent test results for its next-generation water-based zinc battery, confirming superior performance in safety, cycle life, and charge and discharge rates in high-power applications compared to standard and next-generation phosphate-based lithium-ion batteries. The test was conducted by QinetiQ, a UK defence and security company
SuperDielectric’s core innovation is a unique patented polymer, which, when tested against like-for-like standard and next-generation lithium-ion single-layer cells, exhibited no thermal runaway, fire, or explosion under abuse conditions.
At 0°C, the results revealed that charge performance was ~48x better. At room temperature, the results showed:
- up to 13x longer cycle life under high-power cycling (10-minute 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 placing increasing demands on power infrastructure. SuperDielectrics’ battery has been developed to address these challenges by delivering fast-response smoothing to manage power fluctuations caused by intermittent renewable energy and high workloads across data centres.
SuperDielectrics’ battery will minimise 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.
Lithium-ion batteries have been optimised for energy density to support long-range EVs and long-duration grid storage; however, their performance degrades under highly fluctuating operating conditions, often requiring larger battery energy storage infrastructure to manage demand, whereas SuperDielectrics’ technology is designed to absorb and respond to these variations.
While lithium-ion batteries are suitable for long-duration storage and backup functions, they are located outside data centres and at safe distances from critical infrastructure and residential areas. In contrast, SuperDielectrics’ batteries 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 the foundation for SuperDielectrics to enter its next phase of growth, focused on securing 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.”
