Lithium-sodium powered energy storage system

A Lithium-ion Lifepo4 Battery Energy Storage System is a large-scale system, such as 300kWh or 500kWh, that stores power when the power is surplus and outputs the stored power to the grid through the inverter when the power is insufficient.

In the energy storage sodium battery technology, the sodium ion battery has better performance at high and low temperatures. The capacity retention rate is 70% at – 40℃, and it can be recycled at 80℃. At the level of energy storage system, the air conditioning power quota can be reduced, and there is room for cost reduction.

The containerized lithium battery energy storage system is based on a 40-foot standard container, and the lithium iron phosphate battery system, PCS, BMS, EMS, air conditioning system, fire protection system, power distribution system, etc. are gathered in a special box to achieve high integration.

The project combines 40MWh of sodium-ion batteries with the remainder lithium-ion and is the largest of its kind in China, the firm said, and therefore almost certainly the world.

Sodium holds potential as an alternative to lithium-ion, thanks to its more abundant raw materials, lower fire safety risk, wider temperature operating conditions and higher depth of discharge capabilities. The latter means it can be fully charged or discharged with less negative effects on the batteries' degradation.

The more abundant raw materials mean that sodium-ion has a lower theoretical cost than lithium-ion, at US$5 per kWh versus US$25 per kWh for lithium-ion, according to figures cited by startup Moonwatt in an interview last week (Premium access). But, the industry will need to scale to achieve that.