Post by Nobian

“Twente kitchen salt, European energy independence: a sodium battery that cuts reliance on critical Chinese raw materials.” That’s the headline above the article in Reformatorisch Dagblad, in which Nobian and its partners in the SLDBatt consortium explain how a salt-based battery can enable long‑duration energy storage using abundant, safe materials that are readily available in Europe thereby strengthening Europe’s strategic autonomy.   At the heart of this battery is sodium chloride, supplied by Nobian, that together with other key chemicals, such as chlorine, form an electrolyte using a proprietary process patented by Nobian. These enable the battery to function without using lithium, cobalt or nickel. The materials used in a sodium battery are widely available, non‑flammable and largely recyclable, making it a robust and safe alternative for stationary energy storage.   The energy transition is increasingly constrained by today’s electricity system. Grid congestion, fluctuating renewable electricity generation, and long waiting times for new connections make reliable energy storage essential. At the same time, many conventional batteries increase Europe’s dependence on critical raw materials sourced from geopolitically sensitive regions.   By using locally available raw materials and producing the core battery chemicals in Europe, the sodium battery helps reduce that dependency, strengthening strategic autonomy while supporting grid stability and decarbonization.   In the interview, Coert van Lare (Nobian), Gert Jan Jongerden (Exergy Storage) and Prof. Guido Mul (University of Twente) explain how this collaboration brings together chemistry, battery development and fundamental research to build a fully European value chain for energy storage.   Read the whole interview (in Dutch): https://lnkd.in/eTRGYT2p   #salt #chemistry #EnergyStorage #SodiumBattery #Batterychemicals #EnergyTransition #GrowGreenerTogether