Scientists Claim Water Battery Innovation Could Transform AI Energy Needs

City University of Hong Kong has announced a major breakthrough in energy storage technology after securing government funding to develop next-generation aqueous zinc-based batteries designed to replace conventional lithium-ion systems used in high-load artificial intelligence infrastructure. The project, supported under the RAISe+ Scheme, will run for three years with a target of achieving 1 gigawatt-hour annual production capacity, addressing growing global concerns over fire hazards and thermal instability in large-scale AI data centers. Researchers explained that the new zinc-based chemistry eliminates the risk of thermal runaway, a major cause of lithium-ion battery fires, while offering safer and more stable performance for continuous power backup and energy storage applications. Dr. Tang, leading the research team, stated that the objective is to create a safe, efficient, and scalable battery system capable of supporting critical sectors including data centres, financial institutions, healthcare systems, and high-end commercial facilities. He emphasized that Hong Kong’s position as a global financial and digital hub will help accelerate international commercialization and technology transfer. The project, titled “Development and application of large-scale energy storage and UPS systems based on intrinsically safe aqueous batteries,” has also formed a strategic partnership with Huasu Technology to support manufacturing and deployment. With AI-driven data centers experiencing extreme power fluctuations, industry experts believe zinc-based batteries could redefine future energy storage markets.