Articles tagged with "grid-storage"
Why iron-sodium batteries matter for the long-duration grid
The U.S. electrical grid is facing increasing stress due to aging infrastructure and rising demand driven by data centers, electric vehicles, and industrial electrification. While lithium-ion batteries currently dominate short-duration energy storage, they become economically unfeasible beyond about four hours of storage. To address the need for long-duration storage—ranging from 8 to 24 hours—to manage multi-day weather variability and seasonal demand swings, a San Francisco startup, Inlyte Energy, is commercializing iron-sodium “salt batteries.” These batteries leverage a decades-old sodium–metal chloride chemistry redesigned for stationary grid storage, using abundant and low-cost materials like iron and table salt instead of lithium, cobalt, or nickel. The design features a ceramic membrane that conducts sodium ions, enhancing durability and stability. Unlike lithium-ion batteries, which prioritize energy and power density for applications like electric vehicles, iron-sodium batteries emphasize long duration, low cost per kilowatt-hour, and intrinsic safety. Although they operate at higher temperatures and have
energybatteriesiron-sodium-batteriesgrid-storagerenewable-energyenergy-storage-technologystationary-storageUS DOE kicks off first 100kW grid battery test for 10x capacity leap
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) has launched its first utility-grade battery testing at the new Grid Storage Launchpad (GSL), marking a significant advancement by increasing testing capacity from under 10 kilowatts to 100 kilowatts. This tenfold increase enables researchers to validate grid-scale battery technologies with the complexity and scale required for modern electrical grids. The inaugural test focuses on a vanadium flow battery from Invinity Energy Systems, assessing its ability to provide frequency regulation—maintaining the grid’s 60 hertz alternating current to prevent equipment failure and blackouts—and peak shaving, which involves supplying power during high-demand periods. This initiative addresses previous limitations where smaller battery systems lacked the sophistication of utility-grade infrastructure. According to GSL director Vince Sprenkle, the facility now serves as the nation’s proving ground for grid-scale storage technologies, offering independent and accurate feedback to developers to prepare their products for real-world deployment. Invinity’s flow
energygrid-storagebattery-testingflow-batteryDepartment-of-Energyfrequency-regulationutility-scale-batteriesAustralia activates 1.6 GWh energy storage facility with 444 Tesla Megapacks
Australia has inaugurated the Melbourne Renewable Energy Hub, one of the world’s largest battery storage facilities, with a capacity of 1.6 gigawatt hours (GWh) and the ability to supply electricity to up to 200,000 homes during peak evening demand. Located near Hillside, northwest of Melbourne, the hub combines 600 megawatts (MW) of capacity with 444 Tesla Megapack units distributed across three battery systems. Two systems provide 200 MW with two-hour storage, while a third offers the same power but with four-hour storage. Co-owned by the State Electricity Commission (SEC) Victoria and Equis Australia, the project includes three Toshiba 500 kV transformers and a pioneering underground 500 kV cable linking the site directly to the National Electricity Market (NEM) high-voltage transmission network, enabling efficient energy flow into key Victorian power corridors. The facility stores excess wind and solar energy generated during the day and releases it during evening peak demand or when renewable
energyenergy-storageTesla-Megapackrenewable-energybattery-technologygrid-storagesolar-powerEnergy storage industry set aggressive goals for 2025 — and already crushed them
Nearly a decade ago, the U.S. energy storage industry set an ambitious target of deploying 35 gigawatts (GW) of grid-connected batteries by 2025. This goal has already been surpassed, with over 40 GW installed as of the third quarter of this year, including 4.7 GW added just in that quarter. Battery storage now accounts for nearly half of all new renewable power capacity deployed recently, with significant installations concentrated in Arizona, California, and Texas—states facing grid reliability challenges. These successes offer valuable lessons for other regions like the Midwest and East Coast, which are experiencing increased grid stress due to data center growth. Startups are innovating rapidly to capitalize on this momentum. Redwood Materials, co-founded by a former Tesla executive, is repurposing used electric vehicle batteries for grid storage and aims to deploy 20 gigawatt-hours by 2028. Base Power leases batteries to homeowners and aggregates them into virtual power plants, expanding beyond Texas with plans for a
energy-storagebattery-technologyrenewable-energygrid-storagelithium-ion-batteriesvirtual-power-plantsenergy-innovationWorld’s largest 4.75 GWh sodium battery system set for US grid storage
US-based Peak Energy has secured a multi-year agreement with Jupiter Power to supply up to 4.75 GWh of sodium-ion battery energy storage systems (ESS) for deployment between 2027 and 2030, with an option to reserve an additional 4 GWh for 2028-2030. The initial delivery in 2027 will be approximately 720 MWh, marking the largest announced sodium-ion battery deployment to date. The total contract value may exceed $500 million, representing a significant milestone for the sodium-ion storage sector. Peak Energy’s proprietary sodium-ion (NFPP) technology features a fully passive design that eliminates the need for active cooling systems, reducing auxiliary power consumption by up to 97% and enhancing safety. This design also lowers operations and maintenance costs by removing components that require routine upkeep. The system offers nearly 30% better cell degradation performance over 20 years compared to many lithium-ion alternatives, potentially reducing or eliminating the need for future capacity augmentations. Jupiter
energybattery-storagesodium-ion-batteriesgrid-storageenergy-storage-systemsrenewable-energyutility-scale-batteriesBase Power raises $1B to deploy home batteries everywhere
Base Power, an Austin-based startup founded in 2023, has rapidly become a significant player in home battery storage, having sold over 100 megawatt-hours of batteries in Texas. The company recently secured $1 billion in a Series C funding round led by Addition, with participation from several prominent investors, valuing the company at $3 billion pre-money. Base Power leases large-capacity home batteries (25 kWh and 50 kWh), which are notably larger than competitors like Tesla’s Powerwall, to homeowners at a relatively low upfront cost ($695 to $995) plus a monthly fee and a three-year electricity purchase commitment. This leasing model lowers the traditional high upfront cost barrier for home energy storage. Base Power leverages Texas’s deregulated electricity market, allowing customers to switch suppliers easily and enabling the company to use the leased batteries to sell electricity back to the grid during peak demand, benefiting from utility incentives. This dual-use approach helps stabilize the grid while providing backup power to homeowners
energyhome-batteriesenergy-storagebattery-technologyrenewable-energygrid-storageenergy-startupChina’s BYD targets next-gen grid storage with massive 14.5 MWh DC system
Chinese company BYD has introduced its Haohan battery system, setting a new standard for grid-scale energy storage with a minimum capacity of 14.5 MWh per unit—more than double the typical 6–7 MWh capacity of most large systems. The battery fits into a standard 20-foot container, delivering 10 MWh at a volumetric energy density of 233 kWh/m³, which is about 51% higher than the market average. Central to the system is BYD’s 2,710 Ah Blade Battery cell, claimed to be the world’s largest for energy storage, offering triple the capacity of typical cells, over 10,000 charge-discharge cycles, and lifetime energy costs below $0.014 per kWh. The design achieves 52% volumetric cell-to-system efficiency by minimizing unnecessary components, resulting in a compact, durable system that reduces failure rates and maintenance costs by approximately 70%. The Haohan system supports millisecond response times and gig
energygrid-storagebattery-technologyrenewable-energyenergy-management-systemspower-conversionenergy-efficiencyNew zinc-iodine battery retains 99.8% capacity after 500 cycles
Scientists at the University of Adelaide in Australia have developed a novel dry electrode technology for zinc-iodine batteries that significantly enhances their performance and stability. This breakthrough involves mixing active materials as dry powders and rolling them into thick, self-supporting electrodes, combined with adding 1,3,5-trioxane to the electrolyte. This chemical induces the formation of a flexible protective film on the zinc anode during charging, preventing dendrite growth—needle-like structures that can cause short circuits. The new electrodes achieve a record-high active material loading of 100 mg/cm², resulting in pouch cells retaining 88.6% capacity after 750 cycles and coin cells maintaining 99.8% capacity after 500 cycles. Zinc-iodine batteries are considered safer, more sustainable, and cost-effective alternatives to lithium-ion batteries for large-scale and grid energy storage, but have historically lagged in performance. This innovation addresses those limitations by reducing iodine leakage, minimizing self-discharge, and extending cycle life
energybattery-technologyzinc-iodine-batteryenergy-storagesustainable-energygrid-storagematerials-science