this post was submitted on 22 Sep 2024
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The more that aren’t lithium, the better. Lithium is about as good as we can get currently in respect to energy density and weight. Neither of these things matter for grid-scale, where service life, safety, and environmental cost should be much more of a priority
All of which the new sodium batteries solve. Massively improved cycle life, completely safe, and the environmental cost is a tiny fraction of what it is with lithium-based.
I don't get why there aren't 50 companies rushing to produce it at-scale for in-place batteries. They should be chomping at the bit trying to get government contracts to install massive battery parks.
Maybe it is just too new that they want to see how the small batteries do in the field.
Perplexing, isn’t it? I’m hoping that once a few real-works examples live up to their hype, sodium will gain a bigger share of these installations
I do believe industrial scale sodium battery systems are ramping up.
https://arstechnica.com/science/2024/03/next-gen-battery-tech-reimagining-every-aspect-of-batteries/2/
There is likely some level of industrial inertia and ramp-up impact.
... together with the impression that the chinese have such a big headstart with sodium ion batteries that it's impossible for US and european producers to catch up.