Sodium-ion batteries are set to disrupt the long-duration energy storage (LDES) market within the next few years. According to new research by GetFocus, an AI-based analysis platform, sodium-ion batteries are improving rapidly. These batteries will offer cost competitiveness with the cheapest forms of dispatchable power, potentially entering mainstream use as early as 2027.
Why Sodium-Ion Batteries?
Sodium-ion batteries are undergoing rapid improvement, far outpacing other LDES technologies. Their cost reductions mean they could become a competitive solution by 2028. Affordable LDES is crucial for the global energy transition. It addresses the intermittency of renewable energy sources like solar and wind, which do not produce electricity consistently. By storing excess energy generated during peak production times and releasing it during periods of low production or high demand, LDES systems ensure a stable and reliable energy supply. This is essential for reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
Key Figures and Efficiency
Sodium-ion batteries offer a significant improvement rate of around 57% in 2024. The average cost for sodium-ion cells in 2024 is $87 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), slightly cheaper than Lithium-ion cells at $89/kWh. Assuming similar capital expenditures, sodium-ion batteries will likely reach around $10/kWh by 2028, making them more affordable than Lithium-ion cells.
Leading the Advancement
Companies like Sumitomo Electric Industries, Hitachi, and Yuasa Battery are leading the development of Sodium-ion Battery technologies. Although these companies have not yet commercialized their technologies, Chinese battery company Great Power announced a 50MW/100 megawatt-hour LDES project. This project aims to power a data center, indicating that sodium-ion batteries are already considered for LDES.
Applications and Future Potential
Na-ion batteries’ rapid improvement rate positions them as a versatile option across the energy grid. They offer more efficiency in round-trip energy use and greater operational flexibility. Their compact footprint and cost-effective integration with renewable sources make them a dominant LDES technology for various applications. These batteries could even enable households to link solar panels with sodium-ion batteries, making them less reliant on external energy sources.
Gorski believes sodium-ion batteries hold the potential to democratize power in the future. With proper packaging, average consumers could become energy self-sufficient, making energy-price swings less impactful. The future of sodium-ion batteries is indeed bright, potentially transforming the energy storage market in less than a decade.
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