New Long Duration Energy Storage System To Challenge Tesla

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Final Up to date on: twenty eighth March 2025, 09:37 pm

EV patrons across the globe have made it clear that the bloom is off the rose of the Tesla model, however zero-emission automobiles aren’t the one product below the company umbrella of the well-known brand that resembles girl components. Stationary power storage is a giant a part of Tesla’s enterprise, and aggressive new applied sciences in that house are starting to surge into the market simply as the corporate lays plans to extend its Megapack output within the US.

The Lengthy-Period Vitality Storage Issue

Lithium-ion batteries, equivalent to those marketed by Tesla, have confirmed to be the workhorses of the renewable power transition. Along with their use in EVs, Li-ion expertise suits the invoice for stationary, utility-scale battery arrays that serve day by day grid balancing duties or present emergency energy when wanted.

Li-ion power storage methods final for a handful of hours, with round 4 hours being typical. That’s all nicely and good for now, however grid planners advise that diurnal (full day) power storage applied sciences of 10 or extra hours will likely be wanted sooner or later, when the nation’s electrical energy profile is saturated with intermittent wind and photo voltaic assets.

The US Division of Vitality has additionally been scouting for lengthy period power storage applied sciences that may final for days, weeks and even entire seasons, and battery innovators have been responding to the decision.

One Lengthy-Period Vitality Storage System To Rule Them All

One amongst many long-duration power storage improvements to floor is an iron-sodium formula developed by the US startup Inlyte. In accordance with the corporate, their new battery could be deployed economically for shorter cycles of 4–10 hours, and it may well additionally present long-duration service of 24 hours or extra.

Earlier this week, Inlyte introduced a significant acceleration of its manufacturing timeline, below a brand new Memorandum of Understanding with the longstanding Swiss battery producer HORIEN Salt Battery Options (previously FZSoNick).

“By joining forces with HORIEN, we gain access to world-class manufacturing expertise and established industry relationships,” explains Inlyte CEO and founder Antonio Baclig. “This will help us speed delivery of our breakthrough battery technology that combines the efficiency of lithium-ion batteries with the low-cost needed for long duration energy storage.”

Inlyte has already confirmed its expertise at its pilot plant within the UK, paving the way in which for the development of the brand new “Inlyte Factory 1” within the US. The plan is to copy HORIEN’s current battery manufacturing system whereas integrating Inlyte’s iron-sodium expertise.

Salt Batteries Are (Lastly) Right here

Salt batteries have crossed the CleanTechnica radar for the reason that early 2000’s, the attraction being the chance to leverage cheap, considerable, and non-toxic supplies that may be acquired by way of home provide chains (see extra sodium battery background here).

There being no such factor as a free lunch, engineering effectivity and sturdiness into sodium batteries has been a years-long journey, however some researchers have cracked the code. That features Inlyte, which reported a key breakthrough in December. Following a testing interval of greater than 12 months, the corporate introduced that its power storage expertise lasted for greater than 700 cycles with out shedding capability, whereas attaining 90% roundtrip effectivity.

“These results, representing over a year of testing, project a battery life of at least 7,000 cycles or 20 years — matching the proven performance of traditional sodium nickel chloride batteries, but at a fraction of the cost,” Inlyte famous.

A Many years-Lengthy Leg Up For Lengthy-Period Vitality Storage

Though Inlyte launched just some years in the past, in 2021, the corporate has availed itself of a decades-long power storage information base. Along with the brand new MOU with HORIEN, Inlyte acquired the UK agency Beta Analysis in 2022.

As described by Inlyte, Beta Analysis is the house of a analysis crew credited with growing the unique sodium steel halide battery within the late twentieth century, later bringing it as much as business manufacturing capability “on multiple continents.”

“Beta Research’s fully-functioning pilot production line, with 30,000 square feet of manufacturing and testing facilities, allows Inlyte to immediately go-to-market with pilot projects once the optimized design is complete,” Inlyte notes.

Vitality Storage Producers Coronary heart Texas

Inlyte expects to have its US manufacturing facility up and operating in 2027, which is attention-grabbing within the context of present federal power coverage. The considerably erratic Commander-in-Chief who occupies the White Home has hatched a new “American Energy Dominance” plan that fails to benefit from essentially the most considerable and readily accessible power assets within the US — particularly, wind and solar power. Including insult to damage, the Trump authorities has blocked renewable energy permits and is within the strategy of “reviewing” funds for long-duration power storage initiatives beforehand dedicated by the Biden administration.

However, Inlyte is assured that its US manufacturing plans are on monitor, with manufacturing starting in 2027.

The corporate has not disclosed the situation of the brand new manufacturing facility but. Any guesses? Texas, possibly? Regardless of the red-state rhetoric of Republican lawmakers in Texas, the business-friendly state simply can’t resist the attract of cleantech enterprises, together with power storage ones.

Take Tesla, for instance. The corporate launched with its ft firmly planted in California, however in recent times, Tesla has linked its manufacturing fortunes to Texas.

Within the newest information on that rating, earlier this month the Texas information group Protecting Katy Information reported that the Metropolis Council of Brookshire, Texas, and the Waller County Commissioners Courtroom accredited a tax abatement to easy the way in which for Tesla to convey a new Megapack factory to the Empire West industrial park close to the Metropolis of Katy.

Make Room For Iron-Sodium Batteries

CKN additionally famous that the brand new Megapack manufacturing facility will occupy a constructing constructed below an on-spec program that Waller County launched again in 2010. Apparently, the commissioners are happy with this system’s means to draw tenants and their funding {dollars}, too. Plans are already within the works for the additional enlargement of Empire West.

What do you assume, will Megapacks meet with buyer resistance because the grip of Tesla CEO Elon Musk tightens on the reins of the federal authorities? His “DOGE” crew has already disrupted key companies at a number of federal businesses. Toppling them altogether is the subsequent step.

My guess is that model status is not going to be a think about Megapack gross sales, it doesn’t matter what Musk says or does. Megapack patrons are targeted squarely on the underside line, in contrast to particular person automotive patrons who can simply react to the unforced damage to the Tesla brand by merely selecting one other automotive.

Nope. The true risk to Megapack gross sales will come from long-duration startups like Inlyte in addition to world battery storage leaders like CATL.

Picture (cropped): A protracted-duration power storage startup is laying plans to fabricate its new iron-sodium battery within the US, presenting a brand new problem to Tesla’s Megapack enterprise (courtesy of Inlyte).