Swedish company Enerpoly has opened the world's first zinc-ion battery factory near Stockholm, aiming for an annual capacity of 100 MWh by 2026.
"According to Enerpoly, this mega plant will serve Europe's needs for secure energy storage and utilize a pan-European supply chain," reports New Atlas. 
If you're wondering why Enerpoly comes with zinc-ion batteries and not lithium-ion batteries, it's because the former is a much better energy storage option in a number of ways:
- They use a water-based electrolyte, which makes them non-flammable and reduces the risk of fires and explosions.
- It is less expensive because zinc is much more abundant than lithium (which is difficult and expensive to extract) and easier to handle. They can also operate over a wider temperature range and require less maintenance, making the batteries cheaper than lithium-ion batteries.
- They are more environmentally friendly for the same reason. In contrast, lithium mining today requires extensive mining as well as the use of huge evaporation ponds before processing even begins.
- They are said to last much longer. According to the International Zinc Association, a non-profit association of which Enerpoly is a member, zinc-based batteries can last up to 20 years, while lithium batteries last about 12 years.
The disadvantage;
They have a lower energy density.
