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Comment by scotty79 | Hacker News Reader

Also sodium batteries are coming to the market at a fraction of the cost.

"We’re matching the performance of [lithium iron phosphate batteries] at roughly 30% lower total cost of ownership for the system." Mukesh Chatter, cofounder and CEO, Alsym Energy

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I see this as complementary to other energy storage systems, including sodium ion batteries; each will have its own strengths and weaknesses. I expect energy storage density cost will be the critical parameter here, as this looks best suited to do diurnal storage for solar power systems near out-of-town predictable power consumers like data centers.

Maintenance of the system is my biggest question. Lot of mechanical complexity with ensuring your gas containment, compressors, turbines, etc are all up to spec. This also seems like a system where you want to install the biggest capacity containment you can afford at the onset.

All of that vs lithium/sodium where you can incrementally install batteries and let it operate without much concern. Maybe some heaters if they are installed in especially cold climates.

Don't even really need notable heaters if you regulate your thermal vents enough.

from the picture, the compressor and generator located inside the dome. the dome is filled with CO2. maintenance people have to carry oxygen tank, or they die.

they just do the maintenance when is empty?

> Maybe some heaters if they are installed in especially cold climates.

Sodium batteries can operate down to -40C. There are very few places on Earth where they would need a heater.

Sodium batteries will take 15 years to overtake LFPs cost. Stop gargling on hype please.

That seems unlikely since they can use the same factories and the raw material cost is significantly lower.

It's not panacea. Only lithium vs sodium is cheaper and they can use lower grade graphite which is just slightly cheaper (overall 30% reduction). Rest is same while it's a new manufacturing process. Meanwhile 99.99% production is focused and will be continued focused LFP.

That entirely depends on how large the market for stationary storage is going to be. On top of the price, sodium has advantage of being safer and usable in wider temperature range.

Who in their right mind would pay 40% more to pick a dangerous and fussy product just because it's a bit smaller and lighter for their home?

Sodium is obviously better option even for cars in very cold climates (which is somewhat of a niche (tho lfp cold gates even in mild climates)) and IMO CATL et al will charge premium for this while they can.

But initial claim was “fraction of the cost, tomorrow” which is super incorrect.

I did not say tomorrow. It will definitely take time.

What I'm opposing is flippantly relegating a new technology with real benfits, that the largest manufacturer of lithium batteries is significantly betting on, to the 0.01% of the market.

You say 0.01%, largest manufacturer of lithium batteries says 50%. If you meet half way it's still about 25% which is significant.

https://undecidedmf.com/why-the-biggest-battery-company-is-b...

Oh god, of course it's mr undecided. Go thru years of his hype videos and decide if ANY of his predictions were right. Goes well with EV viking and "just (don't) have a think".

Yes, eventually it might be 50%, but right now you can't even get _specs_ from CATL while LFPs are traded like commodity.

I have no respect for what mr undecided is saying. I have respect for what CATL is saying.

https://www.catl.com/en/news/6401.html

Are you sure you aren't the one blinded by hype?

This a PR release. For example - where's volumetric density?

Intelligence is the ability to infer correctly from incomplete data.

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