When Meng Jintao was a child, power outages in his rural hometown sparked his curiosity: Why can't we store electricity during regular times and use it when the power goes out?

Now 29, Meng has turned this childhood curiosity into reality with his advanced iron-based flow energy storage system.

Distinguished by its substantial storage capacity, high safety standards, and long-term durability, this technology represents a major advancement in energy storage.

To further develop his innovation, Meng founded JA Energy Storage Wuhan Technology Co., Ltd. in Central China's Hubei province.

In 2013, Meng began his studies at Hefei University of Technology in Anhui, East China, majoring in new energy materials and devices.

During his university years, he traveled to Qinghai and Gansu provinces in Northwest China for research, where he observed the initial successes of wind and solar power projects. However, he learned from power station staff that much of the energy generated by wind turbines was unstable and could not be effectively used.

It was during this period that Meng recognized the urgent need for advanced storage solutions to stabilize energy supply and release it steadily to the grid, thereby increasing efficiency.

This realization led him to develop the iron-based flow energy storage system.

"This system functions like a large power bank for cities," he explained.

According to Meng, while lithium batteries are well-established, there is a growing need for a more affordable and safer storage solution.

He chose iron for its cost-efficiency and the abundant availability of iron resources in China. Iron-based flow energy storage systems are also more economical and use water as a solvent, making them fire-resistant and safer.

Innovative milestones

In 2020, while pursuing his master's degree at Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST) in Wuhan, Meng achieved a significant milestone by successfully testing the first iron-based flow battery in his lab.

"Seeing the battery model start its charging and discharging cycles was a moment of immense pride," he recalled.

After graduating from HUST, Meng went to the United States for further study.

In 2021, he chose to return to China to start his own company, JA Energy Storage, while continuing his doctoral studies at HUST.

"With China announcing its dual carbon goals, I wanted to transform my research into a tangible product that could both benefit the country and make a difference," he said.

Through continuous adjustments, rigorous research, and relentless experimentation, Meng and his team completed their first kilowatt-level energy storage system in 2021, suitable for everyday use.

Shortly afterward, in 2022, their first 100-kilowatt energy storage system was sold and received client approval.

Meng pointed out that their energy storage technology is a pioneering achievement both in China and globally, having been developed from scratch without any existing models. It has significantly improved upon traditional iron-based flow batteries by greatly enhancing the reaction rate, which allows for faster charging and discharging. Additionally, the storage efficiency has increased from 50 percent to 70 percent.

In 2023, the energy storage system was included in the China National Energy Administration's third batch of major technical equipment projects in the energy sector.

This year, JA Energy Storage's upgraded 1 MW/8 MWh iron-based flow battery energy storage system has been put into operation at Hubei Yangtze Electric in Wuhan's Optics Valley. The system is expected to reduce the park's electricity costs by over 20 percent annually.

Meng's success as an entrepreneur is rooted in his expertise in advanced technology, his commitment to research, and China's supportive environment for startups.

He highlighted that the industrial park where his company is based houses many innovative businesses. Young entrepreneurs like him benefit from collaborative platforms, along with favorable policies and financial assistance.

"The local government offers significant support to young entrepreneurs," Meng said, noting that his company has received top-level financial assistance of 10 million yuan ($140,360) through a talent policy.

Looking ahead, Meng hopes to enhance the practical application of his research by fostering industry-academia collaborations.

Meng and his team are also working to integrate energy storage solutions with dual carbon policies, optimizing energy management and helping companies reduce costs and carbon emissions.

"I want to keep improving the technology to make energy storage safer and more cost-effective, both in China and worldwide," he said.