A new type of energy storage battery is making waves in the renewable energy world. California-based Inlyte Energy recently completed a successful test of its full-scale iron-sodium battery, often called a “salt battery,” in the United Kingdom. This success marks an important step toward producing these batteries in the United States and supporting the country’s shift toward clean energy.
Inlyte’s battery technology is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy. The company received early-stage funding through the ARPA-E SEED program and a $4 million award from the Critical Facility Energy Resilience program. These funds are helping Inlyte move from research and development to practical applications, including installing its system at a healthcare campus in California.
The iron-sodium battery is designed for long-duration energy storage. It can store electricity for daily cycles of four to ten hours and can scale to provide energy for more than 48 hours. One major advantage of this technology is its safety. Unlike traditional lithium-ion batteries, the iron-sodium system does not require extensive fire risk measures. During testing, the battery achieved an 83% round-trip efficiency, which is highly competitive with lithium-ion systems and well above the average for other long-duration storage technologies.
Inlyte has formed important partnerships to bring its technology to larger markets. The company partnered with Swiss battery manufacturer HORIEN Salt Battery Solutions and the U.S. utility Southern Company. Together, they are preparing to demonstrate a utility-scale version of the battery in Alabama. At the same time, Inlyte is in the final stages of choosing a site for its new U.S. factory, with production expected to start in 2026.
The new batteries have the potential to change how renewable energy is used. They can store excess electricity from wind and solar power, making it available when demand is high or when the sun is not shining and the wind is not blowing. This ability to store clean energy helps reduce dependence on fossil fuels and makes the energy grid more reliable.
While the focus so far has been on utility-scale storage, sodium battery technology could eventually expand to electric vehicles and residential use. Companies like Unigrid are exploring ways to scale sodium batteries for homes, which could one day lead to safer and more efficient EV batteries.
The successful test of Inlyte’s iron-sodium battery shows that long-duration energy storage is becoming a reality. With federal support, industrial partnerships, and plans for U.S. manufacturing, this technology is poised to help integrate more renewable energy into the grid. It represents a promising step toward a cleaner, safer, and more flexible energy future.
Other firms, such as QuantumScape Corp. (NYSE: QS), are also making progress in developing new battery chemistries for various end-uses, such as in electric vehicles. The coming years are therefore poised to bring revolutionary changes to the battery industry at a more rapid pace than has been seen in past decades.
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