Livermore Lab is operated for DOE by the University of California. Zinc-air fuel cells mix zinc pellets and electrolyte with air to create electricity. They create five times as much power as lead-acid batteries of the same weight. The Livermore design is unique because it is refuelable. Spent zinc can be recycled into zinc pellets.
Refueling is quick and simple.
Large units for utilities. But the rest of the time the excess capacity is unused. Scores of environmentally benign zinc-air fuel cells could conceivably provide supplemental power, thus preventing the need for expensive new plants to meet peak demand. Moreover, recycling of the zinc could take place at night, using existing capacity when electrical demand is slack. Small units for generation and uninterruptable power supply.