Production of Liquid Metal Battery Begins

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【Summary】Ambri, a startup, is producing liquid metal batteries for use on the electrical grid. These batteries are cheaper and simpler to construct than lithium ion batteries, and they are more durable and less flammable. The company aims to reduce costs further to compete with traditional power plants by 2030. Other nontraditional battery technologies, such as phase-change materials, are also being explored for energy storage.

FutureCar Staff Aug 16, 2023 9:39 AM PT

Production of Liquid Metal Battery Begins

The field of clean energy generation is filled with claims of groundbreaking technologies, but many of these innovations never make it to production. Whether it's due to cost issues, production challenges, or scalability limitations, we are often tantalized by industry breakthroughs that never materialize. Examples of such technologies include multi-layered solar panels, wave and tidal energy, and hydrogen fuel cells. Despite their potential, these technologies struggle to surpass the lower cost, simpler, and proven alternatives. However, one technology seems to be defying this trend - the liquid metal battery developed by startup Ambri.

Ambri's battery technology is already positioned to disrupt the market, with a cost of about half that of lithium-ion batteries, which currently cost around $405 per kilowatt-hour. The construction method of Ambri's batteries is also simpler, utilizing molten metal electrodes and a molten salt electrolyte. This not only makes the batteries more durable but also eliminates the risk of flammability and ensures minimal degradation over time. 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 challenge in scaling this technology is the sourcing of antimony, one of the metals required for construction.

While Ambri can produce these batteries for $180 to $250 per kilowatt-hour, they need to further reduce the costs to around $20 in order to compete with "base load" power plants. However, the company projects significant cost reductions and aims to achieve this target by 2030. If successful, this would 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 this problem. Another promising energy storage technology on the horizon is phase-change materials.