Exciting to see all sorts of batteries for different applications. Is lithium-ion still standard for home power backup? I've heard characteristics of the new sodium-ion batteries being ideal for that use case.
this post was submitted on 22 Sep 2024
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It really is exciting to see alternative battery systems beginning to see wider commercialization.
I am not aware of sodium-ion batteries for home use, I believe it's mostly for industrial-scale battery systems. I could be wrong though, would be interested in learning more.
In an apartment setting, IMO the current gold standard is LiFePO4 (Lithium iron phosphate) batteries.
I live in Ukraine and we have constant problems with electricity supply (thank you dear russians). At times you have 1-2 full charge/discharge cycles per day on a 1 Kilowatt-hour battery system. Several LiFePO4 systems in my extended family seem to work close to baseline even after 1.5 years (not used daily though).
I have not seen any options for sodium-ion batteries for home use, but this maybe a local thing.
In a more rural/suburban setting, generators work as backup power supplies for most people. Typically only the well off get a high capacity LiFePO4 systems for house setting.
Sodium ion batteries are really just hitting the mainstream. Prior to now, they appear to have been more from pilot projects/factories, but a couple large factories are being built now. I expect they will be very popular for stationary use in a couple years.
Good old lead acid is still quite popular in off grid and UPS systems, it's still quite cost effective if size and weight isn't much of an issue.
Yes, but with a limited cycle life of typically 300 or so for AGM, significantly reduced if the battery is ever more than 50% discharged. Also high losses in charging, and needing an extended duration of high voltage low current charging to get to 100% from 80%
For larger applications you don't use agm, you often go back to flooded batteries with even replaceable, high cycle cqthodes: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B9781782420132000030
If you're not limited by space isn't lead-ion cheaper?
It is, but lead based chemistries tend to wear out and need replacing a lot sooner than lithium ion.
You’re core idea is correct though, there’s a lot of battery techs that are cheaper / better when size and weight are irrelevant.
I wish there were more Nickel Iron (Edison) home battery options. Those run for over 100 years and are perfect for a home where size/weight don't matter.
It's very uncommon for them to last 100 years, but they do last a lot longer than any lithium or lead acid batteries. The charging efficiency is rather low, which is probably why you don't see them used much.