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Valo Energy Expects to Announce First Large-Scale Sodium-Ion Battery Project Soon
Valo Energy, supplier to Australia's largest battery, expects to announce its first large-scale sodium-ion battery project in Australia soon. This technology, also considered in the UK, offers benefits such as reduced fire risk and longer storage duration. Sodium-ion is seen as a significant development in battery chemistry, with potential for hybrid systems and a favorable cost structure for long-duration storage.
Valo Energy, the supplier to Australia’s largest battery project at Eraring in New South Wales, anticipates signing the first agreement for a large-scale sodium-ion battery system in Australia soon. Peter Fath, CEO of Valo, a joint venture between Finland’s Wärtsilä and Germany’s RCT, highlights the rapid emergence of sodium-ion battery technology.
Mr. Fath indicated that Valo expects to announce a contract for a sodium-ion battery system shortly, potentially in the first quarter of 2027. Australia is one of two countries, alongside the UK, where these deals are being negotiated. He hinted at a potential 'hybrid' system combining lithium components for fast response and sodium-ion components for long-duration storage. Such a system could, for instance, include 50 megawatts of connected power for sodium for an eight-hour duration.
The rise of sodium-ion batteries is not entirely unexpected. Major companies like GM and CATL have already announced investments in this technology or validated systems. Australian energy companies, including AGL, are also considering sodium-ion for future projects. Mr. Fath suggests that sodium-ion represents the next phase in battery chemistry evolution, following the shift from NMC to LFP.
Sodium is significantly more abundant than lithium and is widely distributed across the planet. According to Mr. Fath, sodium-ion batteries offer reduced fire risk, longer duration for storage needs extending up to twelve hours, and the ability to operate within greater temperature extremes. As the technology rolls out and manufacturing efficiencies are achieved, costs are expected to decrease. Mr. Fath states that sodium-ion batteries will offer a more advantageous cost structure for long-duration storage.
Valo is currently involved in supplying the Eraring battery, being built by Origin Energy. The first two stages of this project comprise 460 MW and 1,700 MWh, with a planned expansion to 700 MW and 3,170 MWh. Valo is also supplying batteries for the 400 MW, 1,600 MWh Teebar project in Queensland and the Blind Creek DC hybrid project in New South Wales, which combines a 243 MW, 486 MWh battery with a 300 MW solar farm.
This article is based on information from RenewEconomy.
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