Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries are now the best option for solar batteries since they are highly dependable and can be found in popular battery storage devices.
Will lithium-ion batteries lose their dominance over sodium ion (Na-ion) batteries in the renewable energy storage market? Is sodium ion a long-term, workable solution for solar systems? Let’s investigate.
Safety
Sodium ion solid-state batteries can function successfully at high temperatures and are non-flammable, making them safer than Li-ion batteries. Lithium batteries are prone to fire if handled, charged, or stored incorrectly.
Due to many incidents of lithium-ion batteries catching fire, the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) has issued a warning concerning the fire hazards of these batteries. These uncommon incidents should encourage you to get lithium-ion batteries for your home’s solar energy storage system.
LFP is safer than NMC since it can handle greater power and operate at higher temperatures. Lithium-ion batteries have undergone more testing and have a proven track record in the solar business than sodium-ion batteries.
Cost
Battery technology acceptance is heavily influenced by cost; they increase the price of a solar system installation by several thousand dollars.
Due to less expensive materials, sodium-ion batteries are anticipated to be less costly than lithium-ion batteries. Depending on the kind and capacity, lithium-ion batteries for solar energy storage generally cost between $7,000 and $14,000 before the federal solar tax credit.
Lithium and cobalt are used extensively in the production of lithium-ion batteries. Inflation and the increased demand for residential energy storage systems and electric vehicles are both driving up the price of lithium. There is now a scarcity of metal, which is anticipated to continue for the foreseeable future. Nickel, cobalt, or lithium are not used in sodium-ion batteries.
In reality, the difficulties in obtaining lithium drive the creation of sodium-ion batteries. Many people think that a new kind of battery has to be introduced to meet the need for energy storage.