<
https://reneweconomy.com.au/sodium-ion-batteries-could-be-the-next-big-thing-in-storage-but-face-a-frustrating-hurdle-on-the-home-front/>
"The much-anticipated sodium-ion batteries are coming, but not for keen
householders in Australia because they can’t be certified for the federal
rebate under current rules.
Sodium-ion batteries are fast emerging as a real competitor to lithium ion, as
they promise safer, and potentially cheaper, chemistries, and all of the
biggest manufacturers are now actively pursuing the new technology.
But in Australia, the market will be limited to large-scale and commercial
sizes only.
The Clean Energy Council (CEC), responsible for ticking off solar and storage
technologies used in Australian homes, only registers lithium-ion batteries.
It’s a situation that will see sodium ion batteries locked out of the federal
battery rebate, the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES), and many
networks which require home batteries to have CEC certification in order to
connect.
The CEC is working with Standards Australia on accrediting other battery
chemistries, but there’s no detail on how long providers of the new battery
technologies will have to wait.
It’s a situation that is frustrating Australia’s first sodium battery maker
Powercap.
CEO John Ross says his battery, which he hopes to have on the market in
Australia in January 2026, will be priced around $900 per kilowatt hour (kWh)
with an inverter.
This is on par or cheaper than many popular lithium batteries before rebates,
according to Solar Choice, but uncompetitively expensive once rebates and SRES
certifications are factored in.
“That rebate will kill us,” Ross told
Renew Economy at All Energy last week,
but says there is a growing, and keen cohort of Australians who are desperate
for a sodium battery.
“Anyone who is dead set on not wanting lithium…after your article last year I
had 580 inbound queries. I’ve had four calls today asking when are you ready.
And I say sorry, the TÜV Rheinland is holding us up and they say I don’t care,
I’ll wait.”"
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
