Tom Sisto, CEO and co-founder of XL Batteries, described the discovery of the organic compound central to his company’s innovative flow battery technology as “pure dumb luck.” The breakthrough was revealed during an interview at the BloombergNEF Summit in New York on April 22, 2026.
XL Batteries has set an ambitious target to enable storage for one-third of the world’s electricity by developing a battery system that avoids reliance on metals and complex global supply chains. This is achieved through the use of an organic compound, which forms the basis of their flow battery technology.
Advancements in flow battery technology
The flow battery developed by XL Batteries represents a significant shift from traditional energy storage solutions that depend on scarce metals like lithium or cobalt. Sisto highlighted that their approach emphasizes longevity, cost-effectiveness, and scalability, which are critical factors for widespread adoption in grid-scale energy storage.
By leveraging organic materials, XL Batteries aims to reduce dependency on the volatile markets and geopolitical risks associated with metal extraction and processing. This could streamline manufacturing and lower the ecological footprint of the batteries.
Potential impact on energy storage
The ability to store one-third of global electricity demand would mark a major milestone in integrating renewable energy sources, which require large-scale storage to manage intermittency. XL Batteries’ technology, if scaled successfully, may provide a durable alternative to existing storage solutions and enhance grid stability worldwide.
Sources
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