Sodium-ion batteries are still on the sidelines in the BESS battery energy storage game. Lithium-ion batteries still rule the roost, despite justifiable concerns regarding their stability. However, sodium-ion’s lower cost and environmental profile are inevitably seizing attention. It is only a matter of time before sodium-ion battery storage farms appear.
Sodium-ion Battery Storage First For China
The Elektrek website reports that China’s first significant sodium-ion farm is up and running on the grid. The utility, China Southern Power Grid accounts for some 20% of national power consumption, after founding in 2002.
However, the new sodium-ion battery storage project is still rolling out, with just 10 megawatt-hours on grid. Although it will eventually achieve 100 megawatt-hours making it a sizeable project. The utility confirms the following details:
- The initial 10 megawatt-hour farm comprises 22,000 by 10 amp-hour sodium-ion battery cells.
- These 22,000 cells recharge to 90% in 12 minutes according to The Cool Down website.
- Once fully commissioned, the 100 megawatt-hour installation will power 35,000 homes.
A spokesperson for China Southern Power Grid apparently told a media representative that sodium-ion conversion efficiency is 92%. This is significant, given that lithium-ion currently returns 85% to 95% of input energy.
More About Sodium-Based Battery Technology
Sodium-ion batteries use sodium-ions as charge carriers, compared to lithium-ion batteries using lithium-ions. Beyond that, the working principles of both battery chemistries are similar.
The first sodium-ion batteries appeared in the 1970’s according to Wikipedia. However, sodium-ion technology never took off, because lithium-ion was more commercially attractive. But the balance began to shift in the early 2010’s, as lithium prices soared.
The current generation of sodium-ion battery cells uses a sodium-based material as cathode, and a liquid electrolyte of dissociated sodium salts in solvent. The ions travel from the cathode to the anode while charging, and revert during discharge. The anodes are typically carbon-based.
More Information
U.S. Sodium-Ion Battery Manufacture Begins
