New "Salt Battery" Will Be Manufactured In The US

The article discusses Inlyte, a US-based company developing a new iron-sodium "salt battery" energy storage system supported by the US Department of Energy (DOE). This technology aims to provide long-duration, utility-scale energy storage with advantages over conventional lithium-ion batteries, including reduced fire risk and competitive efficiency. Inlyte, founded in 2021, quickly gained DOE backing through the ARPA-E SEED program and expanded its expertise by acquiring the UK firm Beta Research. The company is currently testing its system in the UK and plans to establish manufacturing facilities in the US. Inlyte recently achieved a significant milestone by successfully completing a factory acceptance test of its battery system at a Derby facility, demonstrating 80% round-trip efficiency and the capability to store over 300 kilowatt-hours per module. This performance rivals high-end lithium-ion systems and surpasses typical long-duration energy storage (LDES) efficiencies. The company is advancing partnerships with key players such as Southern Company to demonstrate utility-scale deployments