Hi everyone! I’ve been diving into alternative, off-grid energy solutions, and I thought I’d share two interesting concepts: Aluminum-Air Batteries and Saltwater Lamps.
Aluminum-Air Batteries are lightweight, long-lasting, and provide eco-friendly backup power, perfect for small-scale renewable systems. The great thing is they don’t require complicated infrastructure, just the battery and an electrolyte.
Saltwater Lamps are a simple, sustainable lighting solution that uses just saltwater to power up a lamp. They’re great for off-grid homes or emergency lighting.
Both of these solutions are incredibly easy to implement, and they could fit right into the DIY renewable energy systems many of you are working on. Anyone here experimented with similar systems or ideas? I’d love to hear how you’re using them or improving on them!
Let’s chat about integrating these into home energy setups!
Thanks for the feedback! You make a great point about the advantages of lead acid and lithium iron phosphate.
That said, the appeal of aluminum-air lies in its safety, zero pollution, and extremely long shelf life (20+ years). It’s designed for specific use cases, especially where weight and recharging are less of a concern, like in emergency scenarios or remote locations where long-term storage matters more.
Lead acid and lithium iron phosphate are also equivalently “zero pollution”. I would expect on a life cycle basis that Lead and Lithium batteries are less polluting because they are rechargeable rather than single use. Reprocessing the aluminum hydroxide is energy intensive.
It only has a long shelf life if the electrolyte is kept separate. All batteries have a virtual infinite shelf life if their electrolyte is kept separate.
Thanks for your comment! You’re right that lead-acid and lithium batteries are less polluting due to their rechargeability. Regarding the shelf life, you’re correct that all batteries last longer if their electrolyte is kept separate.You look like a battery expert.jajaja