Production Begins for Liquid Metal Battery

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【Summary】Ambri, a startup, is preparing to put liquid metal batteries into service on the electrical grid next year. These batteries are cheaper and simpler than lithium-ion batteries, using molten metal electrodes and a molten salt electrolyte. They are also more durable and not flammable. The only challenge is sourcing antimony, one of the metals needed for construction.

FutureCar Staff Aug 25, 2023 5:12 PM PT

Production Begins for Liquid Metal Battery

The field of clean energy generation is full of promises and claims, but many of these technologies never make it to the production stage. Whether it's due to cost issues, production challenges, or scalability problems, we often hear about breakthroughs that never materialize. Examples include multi-layered solar panels, wave and tidal energy, and hydrogen fuel cells, all of which are real technologies but struggle to surpass lower-cost, simpler, and more established alternatives.

However, one technology that seems to be defying this trend is the liquid metal battery developed by startup Ambri. Ambri is planning to put this battery into service on the electrical grid next year, and it holds great promise. Compared to lithium-ion batteries, which currently cost around $405 per kilowatt-hour, Ambri's battery technology is already positioned to be disruptive with a cost of about half that amount.

What sets Ambri's battery apart is its simpler construction method, which uses molten metal electrodes and a molten salt electrolyte. This not only makes the battery more durable, but it also eliminates the risk of flammability and ensures long-term stability. According to the company's testing results, the battery is expected to retain 95% of its capacity even after 20 years of use. The only potential obstacle to scaling up this technology is the availability of antimony, one of the metals required for the battery's construction.

While Ambri can currently produce these batteries at a cost of $180 to $250 per kilowatt-hour, they aim to bring down the costs to around $20 in order to compete with "base load" power plants. Although this term is outdated, achieving this cost target by 2030 would be a significant milestone and pave the way for electrical grids to be powered entirely by renewable energy sources. It's worth noting that liquid metal batteries are not the only nontraditional battery technology attempting to solve the energy storage problem; another promising technology on the horizon is phase-change materials.