79
between the current collector and separator during initial charge. Each of these factors will vary as a function of the intended scale, application, and cost target of the
system being designed.
4 Current Battery Deployments
Despite the reliance on higher temperature operation, as of early 2020, both Na–S
and ZEBRA batteries have been deployed in communities around the world for a
range of grid-scale applications, and it is anticipated that additional battery developers in Germany (Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems
(IKTS)) and China (Chilwee Group) may be aiming to expand commercial molten
salt (ZEBRA-based) battery utilization in coming years.
Na–S batteries have, to date, largely been deployed by NGK Insulators. As mentioned earlier, NGK’s “NAS” batteries have been deployed in over 200 locations to
enable over 560 MW/4000 MWh of storage. These batteries have a functional
energy density around 300-400 Wh/L and are expected to run 300 cycles per year
for 15 years. Although they operate near 300 °C, they can be used in a range of
ambient temperatures ranging from −20 °C to +40 °C. They have found uses across
industrial, commercial, and residential application space, enabling renewable integration, investment deferral and ancillary services, and powering remote communities or microgrids. The systems are scalable in size, evidenced by the installation of
smaller systems, such as a 1 MW microgrid support system on Catalina Island, CA
(USA), contrasted with a 50 MW/300 MWh system supporting a solar installation
in Fukuoka, Kyusyu, (Japan) [6].
Na–NiCl 2 systems have been primarily deployed by FZSoNick, employing gridscale batteries suitable for frequency regulation, load shifting, peak shaving, backup
power, and renewables integration [3]. These systems which operate near 270 °C
have a functional energy density around 150–190 Wh/L with an expected lifetime
of around 20 years and are also suitable for operation in variable ambient temperatures (−40 °C to +60 °C). They categorize their technology space into energy
backup, energy storage, and additionally in mobile applications (vehicles).
Much of the stationary storage applications have focused on backup power for
telecommunications, public transportation, and remote site applications. At present,
FZSoNick has deployed roughly 100 MWh of energy storage with approximately
2 MAh of backup storage capacity, most heavily focused around telecommunications backup. An additional 14 MWh of storage is used for to enable renewables
integration, microgrid applications, and grid services (e.g., grid balancing, voltage
regulation). In addition, these batteries are enabling vehicle electrification of buses,
light commercial vehicles, and industrial machinery. That these batteries are able to
provide the combination of performance and safety needed for these mobile applications is an important consideration for their continued development and implementation in the growing energy storage marketplace.
Molten Sodium Batteries
between the current collector and separator during initial charge. Each of these factors will vary as a function of the intended scale, application, and cost target of the
system being designed.
4 Current Battery Deployments
Despite the reliance on higher temperature operation, as of early 2020, both Na–S
and ZEBRA batteries have been deployed in communities around the world for a
range of grid-scale applications, and it is anticipated that additional battery developers in Germany (Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems
(IKTS)) and China (Chilwee Group) may be aiming to expand commercial molten
salt (ZEBRA-based) battery utilization in coming years.
Na–S batteries have, to date, largely been deployed by NGK Insulators. As mentioned earlier, NGK’s “NAS” batteries have been deployed in over 200 locations to
enable over 560 MW/4000 MWh of storage. These batteries have a functional
energy density around 300-400 Wh/L and are expected to run 300 cycles per year
for 15 years. Although they operate near 300 °C, they can be used in a range of
ambient temperatures ranging from −20 °C to +40 °C. They have found uses across
industrial, commercial, and residential application space, enabling renewable integration, investment deferral and ancillary services, and powering remote communities or microgrids. The systems are scalable in size, evidenced by the installation of
smaller systems, such as a 1 MW microgrid support system on Catalina Island, CA
(USA), contrasted with a 50 MW/300 MWh system supporting a solar installation
in Fukuoka, Kyusyu, (Japan) [6].
Na–NiCl 2 systems have been primarily deployed by FZSoNick, employing gridscale batteries suitable for frequency regulation, load shifting, peak shaving, backup
power, and renewables integration [3]. These systems which operate near 270 °C
have a functional energy density around 150–190 Wh/L with an expected lifetime
of around 20 years and are also suitable for operation in variable ambient temperatures (−40 °C to +60 °C). They categorize their technology space into energy
backup, energy storage, and additionally in mobile applications (vehicles).
Much of the stationary storage applications have focused on backup power for
telecommunications, public transportation, and remote site applications. At present,
FZSoNick has deployed roughly 100 MWh of energy storage with approximately
2 MAh of backup storage capacity, most heavily focused around telecommunications backup. An additional 14 MWh of storage is used for to enable renewables
integration, microgrid applications, and grid services (e.g., grid balancing, voltage
regulation). In addition, these batteries are enabling vehicle electrification of buses,
light commercial vehicles, and industrial machinery. That these batteries are able to
provide the combination of performance and safety needed for these mobile applications is an important consideration for their continued development and implementation in the growing energy storage marketplace.
Molten Sodium Batteries