The DREAM project is focused on creating a new kind of battery system that can store renewable energy—like solar and wind—so it’s available when we need it most. Unlike traditional batteries, DREAM uses a “redox flow battery” design, which is safer, lasts longer, and can be scaled up for homes, farms, or even entire communities. Building on the success of a previous CASE project, AESIR – the DREAM project takes this technology to the next level, developing a full scale working prototype sized to provide energy storage for a domestic setting.
Whilst commercial flow batteries are already a commercial reality; the majority of systems rely on vanadium, a rare and expensive metal. DREAM is taking a different approach by using iron, which is much more common and environmentally friendly. The project aims to develop and test new materials and designs to make these batteries even more efficient and affordable.
A key part of DREAM is making sure that every battery is tested in the same way, so results are reliable and improvements can be clearly measured. The team developed standard testing protocols, which will utilised in labs across the globe, helping speed up progress and make it easier to compare results across different labs and companies.
If shown to be a viable business proposition, DREAM will deliver a prototype battery that’s robust, cost-effective, and ready for real-world use. This technology could help Northern Ireland and the UK lead the way in clean energy storage, supporting the shift to net-zero emissions and creating new opportunities for local businesses and communities. By making renewable energy more reliable and accessible, DREAM is helping to build a greener, more sustainable future for everyone.