Sodium-ion battery manufacturing enables a country to take ownership of its energy security the energy supply chain, at low cost and low risk, says James Quinn CEO of Faradion.
After the invention of the wheel, options for human transport barely evolved for 4,000 years. The arrival of the internal combustion engine (ICE) changed all that. Despite regular micro-inventions, the fundamentals of ICE and its reliance on lead acid batteries remained unchanged from the 1890s until today. A competitor started to emerge in the 1970s, and a decade of innovation saw the first commercially viable lithium-ion battery in 1985.
The advantage of lithium-ion batteries is that they are not based upon chemical reactions that break down the electrodes, but upon lithium ions flowing back and forth between the anode and cathode. Lithium-ion batteries revolutionised our lives since they first entered the market in 1991.
While lead acid batteries are low cost, they are also low performance, with a reliance on lead. The main cost of an electric vehicle (EV) is the cost of the battery, and lithium-ion battery prices have fallen 24 per cent since 2016, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance. At the same time, energy density is increasing at a rate of 5-8 per cent a year.
Powering up a British battery boom
But as of today, lithium-ion batteries are still expensive and have major sustainability issues. The first issue will be addressed over the coming years. The second will exacerbate quickly. In short, there are simply not enough raw materials for today’s lithium-ion batteries to be a safe, viable solution in the medium-term.
These batteries are exclusively reliant on finite metals that are difficult to extract from the Earth’s crust. This is dangerous for a country’s energy independence, as we see fragile just-in-time global value chains exposed during the pandemic. The time required to convert exploration success into a new mine is currently 30 years. Even under highly optimistic production assumptions, there will be insufficient supply in the medium term.
Lithium-ion batteries are not the answer for a cleaner, more sustainable environment for future generations
China controls most of the cell battery material supply chain, which represent more than 80 per cent of the battery cost. The country controls more than 75 per cent of world lithium-ion manufacturing capacity, and its lithium reserves are 30 times those of the US. 72 per cent of the world’s reserves of cobalt are in Democratic Republic of Congo, largely owned by China.
As the world seeks to disentangle itself from an over-dependence on China (particularly noteworthy in recent policy shifts from the US and India), lithium-ion batteries are not the answer for a cleaner, more sustainable environment for future generations.
Dr Chris Wright, who was one of the pioneers of commercialising lithium-ion technology, saw potential in sodium-ion in 2011, and co-founded Faradion with Jerry Barker to develop sodium-ion technology and bring it to market. After announcing our first major orders from ICM Australia, then for heavy-goods vehicles in India with Infraprime Logistics Technologies in June, we’ve had nearly 120 requests for partnership in the period of just four weeks.
The reason for the excitement is four-fold. One is the proven ability for sodium-ion to match lead-acid cost of ownership, with performance at least as good as lithium-ion. The second is a drive to invest in a country’s own supply chain, moving away from Chinese dependency. Third, sodium is the sixth most abundant element in the earth’s crust so there is no scarcity. Fourth, sodium-ion batteries can be discharged to 0 V (zero energy), so are safer than lithium-ion. There is a low cost of precursor materials, and it benefits from cobalt-free cell chemistry, with no graphite, no copper and no lithium too.
Simply put, sodium-ion battery manufacturing enables a country to take ownership of its energy security the energy supply chain, at low cost and low risk.
Economies will soon be faced with a choice of technologies to power their sustainability needs. Which technology “wins” this race will depend not just on price and efficacy, but also on supply chain security considerations.
James Quinn is CEO of Faradion
Sodium certainly has accessibility and safety advantages but with a much higher atomic weight.one would expect a lower energy/weight ratio. What is the practical energy/weight achieved? It still may have overall energy/power/cost/ safety advantage.
A good news story. Can we hope Britvolt will go for this one, rather than playing me-too catch-up on lithium cells. Could be a huge global market for fixed power system components at low cost and with easy recycling. Not the only one in this game, but no current megaplayers to take on, unlike lithium.
There was not a lot of information on performance test results, to enable a comparison with other battery technologies. From what I have read your technology is more suitable for larger applications, and less suitable for electric cars and other similar uses, is that right ?
If you have and are able to show that the sodium-ion is as you have claimed, it is certainly a project that should be supported by the UK government, who we are told is looking for new industries. I hope you get the finance to prove this technology immediately, but vested interests do like to stop innovation.
Congrats !!
How does it compare with an equivalent LIB , interms of performance at different C-rates, at different temperatures especially the extremes and overall cycle life on a 70 to 80 % DOD mode.
Wish , Faradion will respond , as this system will have good potential , especially for
Fingers crossed for the sodium-ion. Even if it’s too heavy for EVs it appears to offer a much more sustainable solution for bulk energy storage which is the ‘holy grail’ for future power grids.
Seems like a good, innovative technology … but, this “advertatotial” needs to be balanced with more information on the ‘cons’ of sodium ion batteries of which I’m sure there are some ?
Best of luck to Faradion, hope this progresses.
I agree with Another Steve. More information would be useful.
The nearest I could find, on the Wiki, was sodium sulphur battery compared to lithium ion on energy density – W/kg (with very similar best values).
Obviously sodium is more easily available (and possibly less biologically problematical) – but what is the catch? Why has lithium been the metal of choice for power batteries?
Or is it (was it) just a herd thing….
Here is the issue:
The quoted figures for this battery are:
1: About 60% the energy density of the best Lithium Ion NCA.
2: A lifetime comparable to those currently being achieved in Tesla vehicles.
3: I suspect a cost nowhere near that of LIon at scale.
This has all the hallmarks of a technology lockout. Whatever the relative advantages LIon batteries are available in quantities and costs that let people make products today.
Sodium Ion is at the pilot stage and trying to catch up with a moving target. As regarding materials, can anyone name a mineral we have run out of?
We will always find a way to find more of a material or to substitute it. We will run out of applications for LIon before running out of materials.
Sodium ion Battery Technology is a sustainable alternative to Lithium ion Battery Technology not only in Automotive Vehicles (EVS/Hybrids/ICE Powered Vehicles), but also ideal for Renewable Energy Storage Applications (Large Size Grid Tied Utility Scale, as well as small Off Grid/Hybrid//Micro Grid Applications in Remote areas.
The abundance of materials, across the Globe, along with absence of scarce materials like Lithium/Cobalt, allows it to be cost competitive & it’s Location independency provides Energy Security to most of the nations.
The Safety features of the Sodium ion Battery Technology substantially reduces Explosion risks, provides wider operational range & reduces Safety related Costs.
Manufacturing process is similar to Lithium ion Battery & it would be easier to migrate from Lithium ion Battery manufacturing to Sodium ion manufacturing.
The Energy Density & Life is expected to be far superior to Conventional Lead Acid Battery & very close to Lithium ion Battery at much lower cost, similar to Lead Acid Battery Cost.
All of the above factors make Sodium Battery Technology a viable Alternative to Lithium ion Battery Technology in the near future.