CleanTechnica: ‘New “Salt Battery” Proves Energy Storage Exists, Again.’ US startup Aslym Energy just launched its a new safety-forward, sodium-ion battery into the marketplace, with the aim of accelerating the renewable energy transition. “Aslym is one of several sodium-ion battery innovators to pick up the pieces following the high profile collapse of the US “salt battery” firm Natron. Granted, the cost of Li-ion systems has dropped like a rock since the early 2000s + they are designed with safety features, nonetheless they deploy a flammable liquid electrolyte, with continuing safety concerns.
Battery innovators accept the challenge of developing a new energy storage formula that eliminates fire hazards from the supply chain, does not sacrifice energy density + performance, + prioritizes small footprint + less weight. Aslym further notes that its Na-Series batteries are designed for up to 10,000 cycles, or 20 years which stacks up well against a variety of Li-ion formulas. “Robust hard carbon and stable electrodes reduce the range of mechanisms causing degradation in Li-ion batteries.” Further, “Na-Series batteries use aluminum current collectors that don’t face the same dissolution issues as the copper used in lithium-ion models.” Temperature tolerance is another strong feature. Aslym’s Na-Series formula “performs reliably across a significantly wider temperature range than Li-ion, making it the more robust choice for systems intended for hot, cold or exotic climates without the need for intensive battery management and HVAC.”
The company is eyeing global markets. “As we continue to see record scaling of renewable energy resources around the world, the practical constraints and supply chain uncertainties of lithium-ion batteries have become more acute, driving demand for alternatives that compete on performance, cost, and availability.” Particularly interesting are emerging markets, with the nations of Africa joining China, India, and other areas of growth seeking an alternative to kerosene cookstoves and other unsafe, unhealthy household fuels.
The founder’s intent was to light up the homes of at least 1 billion people around the world who either did not have electricity, or only got it part of the time, condemning them basically to a life of poverty. “When you don’t have access to electricity, you also don’t have the internet, cell phones, education, etc.” The batteries are packed into 20-foot shipping containers, + “Aslym’s sodium-ion solution provides 1.7 megawatt-hours [MWh] of electricity…end user can configure it as needed, charging up in as little as four hours with a discharge in the range of 2-110 hours.” I find impressive the option of multiday or long duration storage, as well as the founder’s emphasis on pulling people out of energy poverty.
