World’s Largest Sodium-Ion Battery Now Operational, Capable of Powering 12,000 Homes

A groundbreaking sodium-ion battery project in China's Hubei province has been switched on, boasting an impressive capacity of 100,000 kWh. This immense energy storage system is capable of supplying electricity to 12,000 homes with a single charge.

The project represents the first phase of the Datang Hubei Sodium Ion New Energy Storage Power Station, which covers an expansive 30-acre site, equivalent to about 15 football fields.

Sodium-ion batteries present several advantages over traditional lithium-ion batteries. They are not only more cost-effective but also safer than the lithium-ion batteries commonly used in smartphones and electric vehicles. Additionally, sodium (Na), the key component of these batteries, is 500 times more abundant than lithium, offering the potential for greater energy storage capacity and efficiency.

Despite their current limited adoption, recent technological advancements have enabled sodium-ion batteries to be used in commercial applications on a large scale.

“Sodium-ion batteries have excellent safety features and perform well in low-temperature environments,” explained Cui Yongle, a project manager at Datang Hubei Sodium Ion Energy Storage. “They maintain 85 percent charging and discharging efficiency even at minus 20 degrees Celsius, which is a capability unmatched by other types of batteries. Moreover, they can handle 1,500 charge and discharge cycles at a high temperature of 60 degrees Celsius and have superior puncture and impact resistance compared to standard batteries.”

Energy storage solutions like these are crucial for optimizing renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, by storing excess energy produced during peak times for use when production is low due to lack of sunlight or wind.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), large-scale grid storage is essential for achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. However, their 2023 clean energy progress report warns that current growth in grid-scale storage capacity is insufficient to meet the targets outlined in the Net Zero Scenario and calls for increased efforts in this area.

Article source: https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/worlds-biggest-battery-renewables-sodium-ion-b2573150.html

Photo attribution: Ra Boe / Wikipedia, Sindelfingen Haus & Energie 2019 by-RaBoe 126, CC BY-SA 3.0 DE