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Unigrid Ships Sodium-Ion Home Batteries, Faces Supply Chain and Material Concerns
Key points
- Unigrid shipped 100 sodium-ion home batteries, expects 1,000 by year-end.
- Demand for energy storage increased in Europe due to heatwaves.
- Sodium-ion batteries are potentially cheaper and safer than lithium-ion.
- Unigrid's batteries use chromium-3, which can form toxic chromium-6.
Unigrid Ships Sodium-Ion Batteries Amid European Demand
Unigrid, a San Diego-based company, has started shipping its nine kilowatt-hour sodium-ion home batteries. The company has shipped 100 units and anticipates shipping 1,000 by the end of the year. Demand has increased from European homeowners, particularly from Spain, France, Germany, and The Netherlands, seeking to store power for air conditioning during heatwaves.
Sodium-Ion Technology and Cost Advantages
Unigrid's batteries utilize sodium-ion technology, which energy storage experts believe could be significantly cheaper to manufacture and operate compared to lithium-ion batteries. Sodium-ion batteries are also considered less prone to fire and can operate across a wider temperature range, down to minus 40C.
Supply Chain and Manufacturing Challenges
China currently leads global sodium-ion battery manufacturing. Unigrid's batteries use sodium-ion cells sourced from China, though the company states it could switch to US-sourced cells in the future. The goal for US companies in this sector is to produce batteries with 100% US-sourced materials, unlike the lithium-ion market where China dominates the supply chain.
Material Safety Concerns
A concern has been raised regarding the use of chromium-3 in Unigrid's battery cathodes. Professor Dame Clare Grey of the University of Cambridge noted that under certain conditions, chromium-3 can form chromium-6, a toxic and carcinogenic material. This raises questions about the safety claims of sodium-ion batteries that incorporate such elements.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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Reporting from
US-based Unigrid has begun shipping sodium-ion home batteries, with demand increasing from Europe for energy storage. The company currently uses Chinese-made sodium-ion cells and faces questions regarding the use of chromium-3 in its cathodes, which could potentially form toxic chromium-6.