Production of Liquid Metal Battery Begins

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【Summary】Startup Ambri is set to put its liquid metal battery technology into service on the electrical grid next year. The battery, which is cheaper and more durable than lithium ion batteries, uses molten metal electrodes and a molten salt electrolyte. Ambri's testing results show that the battery is expected to retain 95% of its capacity after 20 years. However, the company needs to decrease costs further to compete with traditional power plants.

FutureCar Staff Aug 23, 2023 7:11 AM PT

Production of Liquid Metal Battery Begins

The world of clean energy generation is filled with promises of breakthrough technologies that often fail to materialize. Despite the potential of multi-layered solar panels, wave and tidal energy, and hydrogen fuel cells, these technologies struggle to compete with lower-cost and more established alternatives. However, one technology that is defying this trend is the liquid metal battery developed by startup Ambri.

Ambri's battery technology is already positioned to disrupt the market, with a cost of around half that of lithium-ion batteries, at $405 per kilowatt-hour. The construction method is simpler, utilizing molten metal electrodes and a molten salt electrolyte. This not only makes the battery more durable but also eliminates the risk of flammability and degradation over time. Testing results indicate that even after 20 years, the battery is expected to retain 95% of its capacity. The only potential challenge in scaling this technology could be sourcing antimony, one of the metals required for construction.

To truly compete with "base load" power plants, Ambri aims to further reduce the cost of their batteries to around $20 per kilowatt-hour. Currently, they can produce the batteries for $180 to $250 per kilowatt-hour. However, the company projects significant cost reductions by 2030, which could pave the way for renewable energy to power entire electrical grids. It's worth noting that liquid metal batteries are not the only unconventional battery technology attempting to address this challenge. Another promising solution on the horizon is phase-change materials.