Will Australian research team crack the sodium-battery code?

A team of Australian researchers are aiming to crack commercial viability of sodium-ion batteries for stationary storage applications, despite the issues that have plagued the chemistry over time. The research taking place at the University of Wollongong, New South Wales, has received $2.7 million AUD (€1.73 million euro)  in funding from ARENA (Australian Renewable Energy Agency).

Sodium-based batteries make up 11 percent of the electrochemical storage market globally, based on the International Renewable Energy’s 2017 figures. The chemistry has seen low interest in recent years, especially compared to lithium-ion which makes up 59% of the global market.

While sodium batteries are an attractive prospect due to their safe, low-cost components, the efforts to commercialise have been mixed. Sodium-based batteries have found their way into energy storage systems in both Italy and Japan, however much-publicised sodium battery company Aquion experienced a disastrous crash in March of this year (As of July, Aquion has returned with new owners at the helm).

The Australian team of researchers intend to use the pioneering energy materials research of the Intstitute for Superconducting and Electronic Materials, in addition to the institute’s close ties with related industries to gain and advantage and crack the sodium-battery code. The project’s first goal is to develop a 5kWh battery for the “Illawarra Flame House”, the University of Wollongong’s example sustainable home.

Read the original article

If you want to know more about this and other topics directly from end users of energy storage technologies join us at one of these annual events: The Energy Storage World Forum (Grid Scale Applications), or The Residential Energy Storage Forum, or one of our Training Courses.

LATEST ARTICLES

Ultracapacitor UPS (U-UPS) for voltage dips and micro-interruptions

Power interruptions are the most frequent power supply problems with wide-ranging consequences for industry. The causes of these interruptions include short-circuits in the distribution grid, lightning strikes, the connection and disconnection of power plants as well as volatile energy producers such as wind and solar. Because technologies and production processes are becoming increasingly complex, the…

Read More

Energy Storage Systems: the role of an Integrator

Simplifying BESS deployments by mastering their associated risks With the introduction of Battery Energy Storage Systems ‘BESS’, a new role has been created on the value chain. It is the role of a BESS integrator. The role of an integrator can be misunderstood at times or blended with other roles at other times. This is…

Read More

Future energy predictions: Growth of flexibility and grid forming

  It is well known that COVID-19 has caused low energy demand and the growth of renewable energy across Europe. Now, Andrew Tang, Vice President for Energy Storage at Wärtsilä, predicts this will result in swift action to build better grid resiliency. The share of renewable power across Europe has skyrocketed over the last six…

Read More

★REVIEWS

“Probably the most interactive and well organized storage event on the calendar.”

★★★★★

Sales Director, S&C

“Great topics, competent speakers, good networking: keep it like that.”

★★★★★

TLC & SCADA Manager, FRI-EL

“High scientific content, well targeted, perfect organization.”

★★★★★

Expert Technical & Governance, Elia

Excellent networking event. The sponsorship was well worth it.”

★★★★★

Manager, ATL

View More

x