Battery breakthrough could put less strain on the planet

New technology developed in North Staffs

- Sentinel Reporter

A PILOT project involving pioneering technology developed in North Staffordshire has delivered a 'step-change' in the process of manufacturing a type of battery that reduces the demands on the earth's scarce resources.

While lithium-ion technology currently dominates the battery landscape, the method of manufacture demands huge amounts of water, energy and the critical raw material lithium.

Sodium-ion batteries offer an alternative due to the fact they are made using more 'abundant and locally sourced' raw materials, predominantly sodium and carbon.

Now a Lucideon project - undertaken by a consortium led by Batri Limited including Swansea University's Energy Storage Group and overseen by Professor Serena Margadonna - has delivered significant scale-up and sustainability benefits by working together.