A new ceramic material dubbed NaSICON (sodium - Na - super ion conductor) may make widly distributed, home-based battery power storage charged by solar and wind power possible. Ceramatec, the R&D arm of CoorsTek, based in Salt Lake City, Utah, has made a massive breakthrough in deep-cycle storage batteries.
The deep-cycle storage battery prototype is made of common materials, safely operates at room temperature, and can supply household power at about $0.025/kWh compared to the current average of $0.08/kWh for grid-tied power. The units should be available in 2015, sell for about $2K and last for 10 years.
Sodium Battery Technology
New Proprietary Ceramic Material for Deep-Cycle Sodium Batteries
Trend Themes
1. Deep-cycle Storage Batteries - Opportunity to develop and improve battery technology for home-based power storage systems.
2. Sodium Battery Technology - Opportunity to explore the use of sodium-based batteries as a more cost-effective alternative to current energy storage solutions.
3. Renewable Energy Storage - Opportunity to create innovative storage solutions to efficiently store and utilize renewable energy sources like solar and wind power.
Industry Implications
1. Energy Storage - Opportunity for companies to invest in developing and producing advanced energy storage systems for residential and commercial use.
2. Renewable Energy - Opportunity for companies in the renewable energy sector to enhance their offerings with improved storage solutions.
3. Battery Manufacturing - Opportunity for battery manufacturers to integrate new ceramic materials and technologies to create more efficient and affordable batteries.