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Swedish battery maker Northvolt has developed a sodium-ion battery. It should complement the more common lithium-ion battery, which requires scarce metals. Northvolt's technology would be inexpensive and also fire-safe. The company, which wants to become Europe's largest battery producer, thinks it can scale up quickly with the salt batteries.

With a sodium-ion battery, you bypass the difficulties associated with extracting lithium | Credit: Getty Images

Sodium-ion batteries (also called sodium-ion or salt batteries) work in a similar way to lithium-ion batteries. Like lithium batteries, salt batteries have an anode (minus pole) and a cathode (plus pole). Between them is an electrolyte composed of salts and acids. In a lithium battery, lithium ions move from one pole to the other, releasing current. In a salt battery, these are sodium (or sodium) ions.

Not lithium

Northvolt's salt battery is free of lithium and cobalt. These are metals that are in huge demand as the entire world increasingly uses batteries (especially intended for electric cars). In the case of lithium, the problem is not so much that a shortage is imminent, but rather that geopolitical tensions may get in the way.

Ruud Nijs, CEO of Dutch battery maker Giga Storage, told Change Inc. earlier, "95 percent of lithium supply comes from China. China could suddenly decide in trade policy to do something different with its supply. Lithium mines do open in many other places around the world, but they will never be finished in time if China suddenly stops its exports."

Violations and scarcity

In the case of cobalt, it is true that supplies could run out. In addition, cobalt mining in Congo appears to lead to human rights violations. For example, residents are evicted from their homes for mine construction, and are subjected to threats and sexual violence in the process. Child labor is also not uncommon.

Fireproof and inexpensive

So with a sodium ion battery, you bypass those difficulties. In addition, a salt battery has other advantages. According to Northvolt, the technology can withstand higher temperatures, making it more fire-safe. Also, the technology is said to be cheaper than batteries containing nickel, cobalt and manganese.

"Our sodium ion technology delivers the performance needed to enable energy storage with longer duration than alternative battery chemicals, at a lower cost, opening new avenues to the use of renewable energy generation," said Peter Carlsson, CEO of Northvolt. The company does not disclose further how much cheaper the technology is.

It says its energy density (how much energy it can provide per unit weight) is 160 watt-hours per kilogram. It is difficult to give an average value for comparison, as technologies vary and the industry continues to evolve. Moreover, that sector has considerable outliers (for example, of 500 watt-hours per kilogram and even more). In general, a standard car battery currently has an energy density of around 250 watt-hours per kilogram.

Would-be market leader

Northvolt says it can scale up quickly once the development phase is complete. Initially, the technology is intended for energy storage, but the company indicates that electric mobility may also be a possibility in the future. That certainly fits with the ambitions of the company, which aims to become the market leader in Europe in battery production. Recently, Northvolt raised another colossal investment, amounting to 1.1 billion euros. This puts the company in the European top four investments by 2023.

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