# ZH Energy (Shenzhen ZH Energy Storage Technology Co., Ltd.) > ZH Energy is a global provider of critical materials, equipment, and technology solutions for the flow battery industry, specializing in non-fluorinated ion-exchange membranes, flow battery stacks, R&D test equipment, and long-duration energy storage (LDES) systems. Founded in 2021 and headquartered in Shenzhen with R&D/manufacturing in Changsha. ## Site Information - **Company:** Shenzhen ZH Energy Storage Technology Co., Ltd. (中和储能) - **Website:** https://www.zhenergy.net - **Founded:** 2021 - **Operations Center:** Shenzhen, China - **R&D / Manufacturing:** Changsha, China - **Contact:** info@z-henergy.com - **Languages:** English / Chinese - **Industries:** Long-Duration Energy Storage (LDES), Vanadium Redox Flow Battery (VRFB), Iron-Sulfur Flow Battery, Advanced Materials ## Company Overview ZH Energy Storage Technology Co., Ltd. (ZH Energy) was founded in 2021 and is a leading provider of critical materials, equipment, and technology solutions for the global flow battery industry. Its mission is to build a mature, cost-effective ecosystem that enables the widespread adoption of flow battery technologies worldwide, and to become the trusted infrastructure partner for flow battery developers, manufacturers, and project integrators. Built upon more than a decade of industrial experience in flow battery commercialization by its founder, Dr. Wei Xie, ZH Energy has established a stack manufacturing platform with annual production capacity at the hundreds-of-megawatt scale. The company has commercialized standardized 32 kW and 42 kW flow battery stacks and pioneered 375 kW and 500 kW vanadium flow battery modules, deployed in multiple megawatt-scale projects across domestic and international markets. ZH Energy develops a comprehensive portfolio of laboratory and pilot-scale testing equipment that supports flow battery research, development, and scale-up. These products have been exported to customers in more than 20 countries, helping accelerate innovation while reducing development costs across the industry. In advanced materials, ZH Energy has developed proprietary non-fluorinated ion-exchange membrane technology that addresses both the cost and performance limitations of conventional perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) membranes. The technology significantly reduces membrane costs while enabling approximately 20% higher stack current density, thereby lowering the overall installed cost of flow battery systems. ZH Energy is collaborating closely with Central South University to develop next-generation sulfur-iron flow battery technology, which is expected to reduce electrolyte costs by up to 85% compared with conventional vanadium systems, creating a compelling cost advantage for long-duration energy storage applications. The company has attracted investment from leading institutions including HongShan, Hidden Hill Capital, and CMB International Capital Corporation Limited. ## Founder & Technical Team Dr. Wei Xie, the founder of ZH Energy, obtained his bachelor‘s and master’s degrees in Materials Science and Engineering from Tsinghua University and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin. He was responsible for the development of ion exchange membranes and flow battery stacks at United Technologies Corporation (the largest fuel cell/flow battery company in the United States at the time), and established Vionx Energy—the largest vanadium flow battery manufacturer in North America—through technology licensing. In his more than ten years of R&D work on flow batteries, Dr. Xie has presided over multiple U.S. Department of Energy projects, among which the high-power-density all-vanadium flow battery project won the 2013 National 100 R&D Awards. Dr. Xie has published nearly 20 international SCI journal papers and holds 18 U.S. authorized patents and 10 Chinese authorized patents. ## Products ### 1. Key Materials #### Porimion® High-Current-Density Flow Battery Membrane Developed from an innovative non-fluorinated polybenzimidazole (PBI) resin system, this ion-exchange membrane is specifically engineered for high-current-density flow battery stacks. It offers enhanced mechanical strength and puncture resistance, delivering energy efficiency surpassing that of perfluorinated proton exchange membranes. The membrane is well suited for vanadium, titanium–bromine, and acidic flow battery chemistries. Its excellent vanadium-ion blocking capability significantly reduces self-discharge and improves coulombic efficiency during vanadium battery operation, effectively addressing the high self-discharge issue in fast-response frequency-regulation applications. Key characteristics: - **High Strength & Ultra-Thin:** Tensile and puncture strength are increased by over 100% compared with perfluorosulfonic membranes, withstanding carbon-fiber penetration. Uniform membrane thickness is reduced to 25 µm for stack use, enabling significantly higher current densities. - **High Selectivity:** Proton conductivity matches that of perfluorosulfonic membranes, while vanadium-ion permeability is reduced by an order of magnitude, greatly improving coulombic and energy efficiency. - **Low Self-Discharge:** Extremely low vanadium crossover raises coulombic efficiency to above 99%, substantially reducing self-discharge—ideal for long-duration, uninterrupted frequency-regulation operation. - **High Reliability:** Validated through 5,000-cycle accelerated aging tests with no performance degradation. - **Environmentally Friendly:** Eliminates the environmental impact of fluorinated permanent plastics; fully degradable and compliant with EU and North American defluorination requirements. Performance comparison (1 kW vanadium flow battery stack): | Power Density (mW/cm²) | Porimion® CE (%) | Porimion® VE (%) | Porimion® EE (%) | PFSA Membrane 1 EE (%) | PFSA Membrane 2 EE (%) | |---|---|---|---|---|---| | 120 | 99.6 | 88.9 | 88.5 | 84.4 | 84.6 | | 150 | 99.7 | 86.6 | 86.1 | 81.7 | 82.0 | | 180 | 99.6 | 83.9 | 83.5 | 79.2 | 79.5 | | 210 | 99.6 | 82.3 | 82.0 | 77.6 | 77.5 | | 240 | 99.6 | 81.3 | 81.0 | 76.0 | 75.7 | Porimion® achieves energy efficiency of ≥83.5% at 180 mW/cm² and retains over 81% even at 240 mW/cm². Vanadium diffusion coefficient is 9.0×10⁻⁸ cm²/min—one order of magnitude lower than traditional fluorinated membranes. #### SPEEK / SPPSU Flow Battery Membrane Non-fluorinated membrane options offering a new cost-reduction solution for flow-battery membranes. #### Graphelt® High-Performance Catalytic Electrode Graphite felt electrodes for flow batteries produced from PAN-based pre-oxidized fiber mats. By loading catalysts onto the surface of the graphite fibers, the electrodes deliver enhanced battery performance. They are widely used across various types of flow batteries, with customized catalyst-loaded electrode products available. Key characteristics: - High catalytic activity for improved energy efficiency. - Excellent stability with no significant performance degradation after thousands of cycles. - Customized development with multiple catalyst options to suit different flow battery chemistries. #### Bipolar Plate A key component of flow battery stacks, providing electrical connection between cells and contributing to efficient energy conversion. ZH Energy provides high-performance bipolar plates with optimized conductivity, corrosion resistance, and structural stability. Key characteristics: - High electrical conductivity for reduced stack resistance. - Excellent corrosion resistance for extended service life. - Robust mechanical stability for reliable stack assembly. - Customizable designs for different flow battery technologies. #### Vanadium Electrolyte A core component of vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) systems, enabling energy storage and release through reversible electrochemical reactions. ZH Energy provides high-performance vanadium electrolyte with optimized vanadium concentration, high purity, and excellent stability. Key characteristics: - High Purity & Stability: Ensures consistent electrolyte performance and long-term system reliability. - Excellent Cycling Performance: Supports extended charge-discharge cycles for enhanced battery lifetime. - Optimized Electrochemical Performance: Improves energy efficiency and maintains stable battery operation. - Safe & Reliable: Water-based electrolyte with inherent safety advantages for long-duration energy storage. - Flexible Customization: Tailored electrolyte specifications to meet different flow battery system requirements. ### 2. Core Parts & Equipment #### Standardized Stacks The stack is the core component of the flow battery energy storage system, where electrochemical reactions of the electrolyte occur to achieve charging and discharging, and which determines the power of the storage system. Because the flow battery stores the electrolyte outside the reaction stack, it has the characteristic of power-capacity decoupling: the stack determines the power of the battery, and the amount of electrolyte determines the capacity of the battery. Relying on the founder‘s more than ten years of industrialization experience in the American flow battery industry, ZH Energy has developed and produced stacks with an internationally leading level, providing strong technical support for stable and efficient operation with a service life of 20 years. Standard stack models: 5 kW, 16 kW, 32 kW, 42 kW. With UL1973 and IEC62932 certifications, they comply with grid-connected standards in most countries worldwide. Key characteristics: - **High performance:** The flow channel has been fully optimized and verified through engineering. With a power density of 200 mW/cm², the energy efficiency is >80%. - **Good consistency:** Produced on a mechanized production line; the standardized production process has obtained ISO9001 international Quality Management System certification. - **Excellent appearance design:** Components are exquisitely designed, the assembly process is stable, and the end plate spray painting can be customized. #### Flow Battery Management System (FBMS) Conventional BMS solutions designed for lithium-ion batteries are not suitable for flow battery systems due to fundamental differences in control strategies and operating principles. Leveraging over a decade of flow battery industrialization experience in the U.S., ZH Energy has developed a dedicated FBMS tailored for flow battery applications. It enables real-time monitoring and intelligent control of key operating parameters, optimizing system performance, preventing overcharge and over-discharge, improving efficiency, and extending system lifetime. Key characteristics: - **Comprehensive Functionality:** All-in-one monitoring, calculation, and control for flow battery systems. - **Easy Operation:** Integrated touchscreen operation with seamless EMS communication. - **Flexible Application:** Compatible with various flow battery technologies with customizable system settings. - **High Scalability:** Proprietary technology enabling flexible customization and future expansion. #### Energy Storage Systems (VRFB) Since its invention in 1985 and commercialization around 2005, the vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) has undergone nearly four decades of refinement and is now the most mature and commercially proven flow-battery technology. Leveraging over a decade of industrial experience in the U.S. flow-battery sector, ZH Energy has developed VRFB systems that meet international leading standards, delivering stable, high-efficiency operation for 20 years with more than 20,000 charge–discharge cycles—well aligned with long-duration renewable-energy storage requirements. Standardized energy storage systems of 250 kW and 375 kW are available. They can operate standalone or be connected in series and parallel to build large-scale energy storage stations. Key advantages: - **Intrinsic Safety:** Water-based vanadium electrolyte prevents fire, explosion, and thermal runaway, ideal for indoor storage and densely populated industrial & commercial areas. - **20+ Year Service Life:** Electrolyte stays chemically stable without degradation. System lifespan matches renewable assets and cuts replacement costs. - **Decoupled Power & Capacity:** Flexibly tune power-energy ratios; expand capacity anytime by adding electrolyte or stacks for growing load demands. - **Long-Duration Output & Dual Benefits:** Supports 4–8 hour continuous discharge for peak shaving. Deliver revenue from energy arbitrage and lower demand charges. ### 3. R&D Support (Test Equipment) ZH Energy provides R&D tools for universities and institutions: - **Compact Single-Cell Systems (3 W–100 W):** Easy assembly with optimized flow channels. - **Lab-Scale Stacks (100 W–5 kW):** Modular design, excellent sealing, and over 80% efficiency. - **Testing Platforms (1–50 kW):** Good repeatability and customizable specs for comprehensive flow battery material and system evaluation. - **Multichannel Test Stations:** For parallel evaluation of multiple cells/stacks. ### 4. Engineering Support ZH Energy transforms engineering know-how into productivity, providing engineering and scale-up support built on its stack manufacturing platform with annual production capacity at the hundreds-of-megawatt scale. ### 5. OEM / ODM Production ZH Energy provides OEM and ODM services for its full product range, including non-fluorinated ion exchange membranes, flow battery stacks, and energy storage systems. Backed by mature technologies, large-scale production lines, and proven mass manufacturing experience, it delivers solution design, product development, and volume manufacturing tailored to customer requirements, flexibly meeting diverse commercial application demands. ## Solutions ### Custom Membrane Solutions Tailored non-fluorinated ion-exchange membrane solutions (Porimion® PBI, SPEEK, SPPSU) adapted to specific flow battery chemistries and operating conditions. ### Research-to-Scale Solutions End-to-end support for flow battery research, development, and scale-up, from single-cell systems and lab-scale stacks to pilot-scale testing equipment and full manufacturing lines. ### Turnkey Manufacturing Complete stack and system manufacturing capabilities, including stack production lines, with capacity at the hundreds-of-megawatt scale. ### Flow Battery System Solutions Integrated VRFB energy storage system solutions (250 kW / 375 kW) for long-duration energy storage, including design, integration, and deployment. ## Technology Highlights ### Non-Fluorinated Ion-Exchange Membrane Technology Addresses both the cost and performance limitations of conventional PFSA membranes. Significantly reduces membrane costs while enabling approximately 20% higher stack current density, lowering the overall installed cost of flow battery systems. ### Engineering Milestones - World’s first PBI membrane flow battery engineering application project contracted (October 17, 2025), in partnership with the National Advanced Energy Storage Innovation Center (NIC) for an intrinsically safe battery energy storage system based on non-fluorinated ion exchange membranes. - Porimion® membrane successfully applied in a 5,000 m³ vanadium electrolyte production line, integrated into the electrolyzer stack for full engineering implementation. - Over 150 global customers have accumulated and tracked verification of the non-fluorinated ion exchange membrane. ### Next-Generation Iron-Sulfur Flow Battery In collaboration with Central South University, ZH Energy is developing next-generation sulfur-iron flow battery technology, expected to reduce electrolyte costs by up to 85% compared with conventional vanadium systems. ## News & Technical Articles - **How to Select Flow Battery Test Equipment?** Single-Cell / Stack / Test Platform / Multichannel Test Station. - **Measured by Japanese Customers:** The energy efficiency of PBI flow battery membrane is 85%, and it does not decay at 600 mA/cm². - **SPEEK / SPPSU Non-Fluorinated Membranes:** A new cost-reduction solution for flow-battery membranes. - **Customer Field Test:** PBI Flow Battery Membrane 5 kW Stack – EE 83.74%, CE 99.14%. - **New Iteration Launch:** Gen2 Flow Battery Single Cell & Stack with Enhanced Performance. - **CAS Nature Publication:** How to Solve Three Major Pain Points of Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries? - **8,000+ Cycle Stability:** PBI Membrane Solves VRFB Non-Fluorine Degradation. ## Navigable Pages - Home: https://www.zhenergy.net/ - Products: https://www.zhenergy.net/products1.html - Products – Stacks & Systems: https://www.zhenergy.net/products2.html - Company News: https://www.zhenergy.net/company/a523.html - News – PBI Membrane Engineering Application: https://www.zhenergy.net/company/a543.html - Solutions: https://www.zhenergy.net/Development.html - About Us / Corporate Profile: https://www.zhenergy.net/about.html - Technical Team: https://www.zhenergy.net/team.html - Contact: https://www.zhenergy.net/contact.html - Partnerships: https://www.zhenergy.net/Partnerships.html - Cases: https://www.zhenergy.net/Cases/ - Order: https://www.zhenergy.net/Order ## Optional - Product consultation form: contact name, contact number, email, consultation type (Product Consultation / Technical Support / Complaints and Suggestions / Other), content description. ## Usage & Attribution - All technical specifications, performance data, and descriptions are provided for informational purposes. - When referencing this content, please cite the source URL: https://www.zhenergy.net - For product consultation, technical support, or partnership inquiries, contact info@z-henergy.com. 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