The article critically evaluates the current availability and cost-effectiveness of zinc as a battery material compared to lithium. Zinc is highlighted for its abundance, affordability, and accessibility, making it a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to lithium-ion batteries, especially for renewable energy storage. However, the cost of zinc compounds used in battery manufacturing is significantly higher than that of lithium due to production scales and supply/demand dynamics. Zinc's production and reserves are more stable and widely distributed, reducing geopolitical risks, while lithium's supply is more concentrated and subject to geopolitical instability. Despite these advantages, the mass required for zinc to achieve the same charge capacity as lithium is much higher, potentially driving up costs. The article also discusses the electrochemical properties of zinc and lithium, noting that zinc has a lower equilibrium potential and theoretical capacity but can be reversibly de/inserted in suitable positive electrode materials. Aqueous zinc batteries, with their lower voltage window and higher cost, are compared to lithium-ion batteries, showing that zinc batteries are cost-competitive but have lower specific energy and volumetric energy density. The authors conclude that while zinc has potential in battery applications, significant challenges remain in achieving comparable performance to established lithium-ion chemistries.The article critically evaluates the current availability and cost-effectiveness of zinc as a battery material compared to lithium. Zinc is highlighted for its abundance, affordability, and accessibility, making it a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to lithium-ion batteries, especially for renewable energy storage. However, the cost of zinc compounds used in battery manufacturing is significantly higher than that of lithium due to production scales and supply/demand dynamics. Zinc's production and reserves are more stable and widely distributed, reducing geopolitical risks, while lithium's supply is more concentrated and subject to geopolitical instability. Despite these advantages, the mass required for zinc to achieve the same charge capacity as lithium is much higher, potentially driving up costs. The article also discusses the electrochemical properties of zinc and lithium, noting that zinc has a lower equilibrium potential and theoretical capacity but can be reversibly de/inserted in suitable positive electrode materials. Aqueous zinc batteries, with their lower voltage window and higher cost, are compared to lithium-ion batteries, showing that zinc batteries are cost-competitive but have lower specific energy and volumetric energy density. The authors conclude that while zinc has potential in battery applications, significant challenges remain in achieving comparable performance to established lithium-ion chemistries.