Zinc-Air Battery Market – Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Type (Non-Rechargeable, Rechargeable), By Voltage Type (Up to 12 V, 12 V to 36 V, More than 36 V), By Application (Hearing Aids, Military Devices, Others), By Region, By Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 2.27 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	5.94%
Fastest Growing Segment	Military Devices
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 3.21 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Zinc-Air Battery Market will grow from USD 2.27 Billion in 2025 to USD 3.21 Billion by 2031 at a 5.94% CAGR. Zinc-air batteries are electrochemical systems that generate electricity through the oxidation of zinc with atmospheric oxygen, utilizing a safe, aqueous electrolyte to deliver high energy density. The primary drivers supporting the market's growth include the increasing requirement for non-flammable energy storage solutions in grid applications and the economic advantages provided by the global abundance of zinc. These fundamental safety and cost benefits establish a stable foundation for adoption in medical devices like hearing aids and industrial storage, distinguishing them from temporary consumption trends.

Despite this potential, the technology faces a significant challenge regarding rechargeability, as technical issues such as dendrite formation severely limit the cycle life of secondary cells. According to the International Lead and Zinc Study Group, in 2025, global demand for refined zinc was forecast to rise to 13.64 million tonnes, highlighting the massive raw material scale available to support battery manufacturing expansion. This robust supply chain serves as a critical asset as the industry addresses the durability obstacles currently impeding broader commercial deployment.

Key Market Drivers

Growing Adoption in Grid-Scale Renewable Energy Storage is fundamentally reshaping the market trajectory, moving the technology beyond legacy medical applications into high-capacity utility sectors. This transition is fueled by the technology's ability to offer long-duration discharge without the thermal runaway risks associated with lithium-ion counterparts. Commercial momentum is accelerating as manufacturers secure capital and contracts to scale production lines for these stationary applications. For instance, according to e-Zinc, June 2024, the company raised USD 31 million in Series A2 funding to advance the commercialization of its long-duration energy storage systems. This influx of investment underscores the industry's pivot toward supporting renewable integration, further validated by Abound Energy, July 2024, announcing a purchase order for a 15 MWh Zaeras energy storage system, marking a significant step in field deployment for industrial decarbonization.

Cost-Effectiveness Driven by Raw Material Abundance acts as the second critical pillar, leveraging the ubiquity of zinc to decouple energy capacity costs from power costs. Unlike scarce battery metals that face volatile pricing, zinc's established global supply chain allows for scalable manufacturing with predictable economics. This material security is vital for maintaining low levelized costs of storage as production volumes increase to meet global infrastructure needs. According to the International Lead and Zinc Study Group's outlook reported in January 2026, global refined zinc output was projected to increase to 14.13 million tonnes in 2026, ensuring a robust feedstock capable of sustaining the mass production required for widespread zinc-air battery adoption.

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Key Market Challenges

The limited rechargeability of zinc-air batteries stands as a substantial impediment to their widespread commercialization, particularly for applications requiring frequent cycling. This technical limitation stems primarily from the formation of dendrites during the charging process. These zinc deposits grow irregularly across the electrolyte and eventually penetrate the separator, causing internal short circuits that drastically reduce the operational lifespan of the battery. Consequently, this durability deficit restricts the technology from effectively competing with established alternatives in the large-scale grid storage sector, where longevity and consistent performance are mandatory operational requirements.

The inability to guarantee high cycle counts creates a disparity between raw material availability and actual market uptake. According to the International Lead and Zinc Study Group, in 2025, global refined zinc metal production was anticipated to reach 13.80 million tonnes. This statistic underscores that while the industrial supply chain possesses the capacity to support mass manufacturing, the inherent instability of the electrochemical recharge process prevents the market from fully leveraging this abundant resource. Until the cycle life matches the longevity of the raw material supply, adoption will likely remain confined to primary cells or low-cycle niche applications rather than expanding into the broader rechargeable energy sector.

Key Market Trends

The shift toward biodegradable and sustainable battery materials is fundamentally altering the market landscape, specifically to address the environmental footprint of the burgeoning Internet of Things (IoT) sector. This trend focuses on replacing conventional, non-degradable components with compostable alternatives like cellulose-based separators and bio-waxes, enabling safe deployment in agricultural and ecological monitoring systems. According to the Royal Society of Chemistry, May 2025, in the 'Small-Scale, Long-Duration, and Biodegradable Zinc-Air Batteries' report, newly developed biodegradable zinc-air cells achieved operational lifetimes ranging from 15 days to 340 days with peak power densities reaching 50 mW cm−2, effectively validating their capability to support long-term, unattended environmental sensors without contributing to electronic waste.

Simultaneously, the development of high-performance bifunctional catalysts is providing a critical technical breakthrough to overcome the historical rechargeability limitations of zinc-air chemistry. Research is increasingly prioritizing the engineering of atomic-scale active sites, such as transition metal pairings, to accelerate oxygen reduction and evolution kinetics, thereby significantly extending cycle life and efficiency. According to RenewEconomy, September 2025, in the 'Australian researchers create new catalyst could supersize zinc-air batteries' article, a team at Monash University utilized a novel cobalt-iron atom catalyst to demonstrate a record-breaking battery lifespan of 74 days with 3570 charging cycles, a milestone that directly challenges the durability dominance of lithium-ion systems in rechargeable applications.

Segmental Insights

The military devices segment is currently positioning itself as the fastest-growing category within the global zinc-air battery market due to the critical requirement for high-energy density power sources in defense operations. These batteries provide extended runtimes for essential field equipment, such as communication radios and thermal weapon sights, offering a distinct advantage over traditional battery chemistries. Furthermore, the non-flammable nature of zinc-air technology aligns with the rigorous safety protocols required for military logistics and transport. The combination of a lightweight design and cost-effectiveness further accelerates their adoption for missions where minimizing equipment weight is a priority.

Regional Insights

North America maintains a leading position in the Global Zinc-Air Battery Market due to the extensive adoption of hearing aids and robust healthcare infrastructure in the United States. The region benefits from high healthcare expenditure and the established presence of major battery manufacturers. Additionally, market stability is supported by rigorous quality standards set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which ensures the reliability of medical devices. This strong regulatory framework and consistent demand for medical electronics allow North America to dominate the global market landscape.

Recent Developments

• In October 2024, Hindustan Zinc Limited signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Indian Institute of Technology Madras to jointly develop a 1 kWh electrically rechargeable zinc-air battery prototype. The collaboration was established to leverage the institute's research capabilities and the company's position as a major zinc producer to create a sustainable alternative to lithium-ion batteries. The project focused on designing a battery module that offers longer life cycles, improved safety, and cost-effectiveness for stationary energy storage and electric vehicle applications. This initiative represented a strategic move by the company to enter the energy storage market by utilizing zinc's abundance and inherent advantages in battery chemistry.
• In June 2024, e-Zinc secured USD 31 million in a Series A2 financing round led by Evok Innovations, with participation from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Export Development Canada, and Ultratech Capital Partners. The company stated that the capital would be utilized to accelerate product development and complete the construction of its pilot manufacturing facility in Mississauga, Ontario. This funding enabled the company to transition toward a production-oriented stage, validating its zinc-air energy storage capability for multi-day duration applications. The investment also supported the company's efforts to deploy commercial pilot projects and demonstrate the scalability of its technology for grid reliability and resilience.
• In May 2024, Octet Scientific, Inc. entered into a strategic partnership with e-Zinc to advance the development of optimized electrolytes for zinc-air battery systems. This collaboration aimed to leverage Octet’s expertise in specialty chemicals and additive technologies to enhance the performance, safety, and reliability of e-Zinc’s long-duration energy storage solutions. By combining Octet’s electrolyte capabilities with e-Zinc’s proprietary electrochemical technology, the companies sought to address critical challenges in battery chemistry, specifically focusing on extending the operational life and efficiency of zinc-air cells for commercial and industrial applications supporting the transition to renewable energy.
• In January 2024, Zinc8 Energy Solutions Inc. announced a significant corporate rebranding, officially changing its name to Abound Energy Inc. to reflect a strategic shift in its management and long-term vision. The company, known for its zinc-air energy storage system, introduced the new brand identity to align with its goal of providing low-cost, long-duration energy storage through its proprietary Zaeras technology. This rebranding marked a pivotal transition for the organization as it focused on commercializing its zinc-air battery technology for grid-scale applications and implementing a new business growth strategy centered on partnership-led development and joint ventures within the energy sector.

Key Market Players

• Energizer Holdings, Inc.
• GP Batteries International Limited
• Zinc8 Energy Solutions Inc.
• Panasonic Corporation
• Duracell Inc.
• Renata SA
• Electric Fuel Battery Corporation
• NantEnergy, Inc.

By Type	By Voltage Type	By Application	By Region
Non-Rechargeable Rechargeable	Up to 12 V 12 V to 36 V More than 36 V	Hearing Aids Military Devices Others	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Zinc-Air Battery Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Zinc-Air Battery Market, By Type:

• Non-Rechargeable
• Rechargeable

• Zinc-Air Battery Market, By Voltage Type:

• Up to 12 V
• 12 V to 36 V
• More than 36 V

• Zinc-Air Battery Market, By Application:

• Hearing Aids
• Military Devices
• Others

• Zinc-Air Battery Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE