Cellnex successfully performs test run of aluminium-air batteries from Phinergy at its Spanish site

Cellnex has successfully finished the pilot programme to test and confirm the usage of cutting-edge aluminium-air battery technology as a backup power system at its locations as part of a test programme. This was done in partnership with Phinergy, one of the leading developers of clean and high-energy-density systems based on metal-air technology that has revolutionised electricity generation using aluminium as the primary energy source.

Aluminium batteries offer clean energy sources and don't produce trash that must be disposed of or pollute the environment. The project involved replacing a diesel generator set with these advanced aluminium-air batteries at Ossa de Montiel, a location close to the Lagunas de Ruidera Park in the province of Albacete (Spain).

The 4kW, 20-hour capacity aluminium-air battery module utilised in the test project can run a medium-sized telecommunications infrastructure. The testing phase confirmed application scenarios where the battery is a continuous power source during power outages lasting between 20 minutes and 10 hours.

The aluminium battery system was retained on site after the pilot project was over and in light of the findings to serve as the standard backup power system and assess the possibility of including it in the technical solutions that Cellnex utilises at its sites. By doing this, the company is moving closer to achieving its ESG goals of using renewable energy sources at its locations.

This ground-breaking technique created by Phinergy uses renewable energy from hydroelectric power plants and is stored in aluminium blocks. This metal is naturally abundant and convenient to transport. The aluminium is mixed with oxygen from the surrounding air using cutting-edge air electrodes to create energy in a tranquil, pollution-free process. Aluminium oxide is the byproduct of using the power contained in the metal, which can then be processed once more to turn it back into aluminium, completing the cycle without producing any harmful waste.