Soaring raw material prices, and their relative scarcity assures competition will always be snapping at lithium-ion’s heels. Chemical and Engineering News announced sodium-ion was coming to the battery world on May 23, 2024. We were keen to know about a daring startup they mentioned behind sodium-ion invading lithium-ion’s market.
Will Lithium-Ion’s Market Fall To Invading Sodium-Ion?
Jerry Barker is a chemist who has been discovering battery materials for decades, according to Chemical and Engineering News. However, this time he is founder and head of a battery firm Faradion and not afraid to compete with a battery gigafactory.
This is because he knows Chinese companies control 90% of lithium, and prices are rocketing at $78,032 per metric ton. Whereas sodium hydroxide is well below lithium’s 2020 price tag of $6,800 at a measly $800 per metric ton.
Meanwhile, sodium-ion batteries enjoy the advantage of being one-third cheaper than their lithium counterparts. They are also temperature-tolerant down to -20 °C, and are not at risk of thermal runaway. However, perhaps their largest secret weapon is they follow the same assembly process as lithium-ion ones.
Is Energy Storage Sodium-Ion’s Big Break?
Jerry Barker is not the only disruptive chemist asking why sodium-ion should not invade lithium-ion’s market. But he is somewhat different because he wants to do something about it. The batteries he has developed already have a 160 W h/kg density similar to the old lithium-ion phosphate versions.
He may not be able to take on the lithium-ion electric car market at this stage. However, what he holds in his hands is certainly adequate for energy storage. Consulting firm Wood Mackenzie appear to be on the same side judging by their 2021 report. They forecast sodium battery production could grow to 20 GW h by 2030.
The potential Jerry Marker is aiming for may be riding on shifting user preferences. Jerry Barker’s CEO believes “a slightly lower energy density is not as commercially significant as was once thought.” Could high lithium prices and accessibility be the key pieces that unlock this puzzle?
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