GM Backs Sodium Ion Batteries for U.S. Grid Storage
General Motors has partnered with Peak Energy to build a sodium-ion battery factory in California, aiming to compete with China's dominance in grid storage. While sodium-ion cells currently lag behind lithium-iron phosphate in energy density, Peak Energy claims its passively cooled systems offer lower lifetime costs and superior durability. This strategy leverages abundant domestic sodium resources to create a resilient energy storage solution for utilities and data centers.
You don't have to power a refrigerator in the desert for 20 years to keep the system operating properly.
- throwaway27448
Surely this will just be Chinese hardware with a "made in America" label slapped on it. I can't fathom why anyone would allow GM of all companies to get any contracts
- TwiztidK
My company operates two Jupiter Power owned LFP batteries in the MISO market. Each of them draws .5 - 2MW constantly for the HVAC system. If the cost for sodium batteries is similar to LFP, that alone would be a reason to switch.
- SubiculumCode
I want to replace my Lithium home battery, and what I really want to do it to move to one of the new sodium ion batteries..e.g like the one CATL is supposed to have at some point?
Anyone have a good idea when these will be available for consumers?
- cyberax
Keep in mind, we could have had local Na-Ion battery production in the US. The company producing them needed about $5m of bridge loans, with products already sitting in warehouses awaiting the UL certification.
This company got sold for scrap.
- m463
> a round-trip efficiency of 96 percent
Doesn't matter for cars, but I think that's pretty good/important for grid storage.