New US factory begins mass production of lithium-free salt batteries

Natron Energy, founded in 2013, is considered one of the pioneers of salt batteries. After years of research and isolation, the first large salt battery factory in the US opens – almost a year later than planned – in Holland, Michigan. Here it will produce its lithium-free salt battery on a large scale. 600 megawatts of storage capacity must roll off the production line every year.

Value chain in the US

Natron’s battery is largely made from materials that are readily available, in this case mainly salt, aluminum and iron. The company managed to set up a value chain that is entirely located in the US. That is a major advantage compared to lithium-ion battery manufacturers that depend on countries with unstable political situations in Asia and South America for raw materials. The good availability of raw materials certainly makes salt batteries a cheaper alternative.

Faster loading

But salt batteries have more advantages. According to Natron, their battery can charge and discharge ten times faster than lithium-ion batteries. This is useful, for example, if a battery needs to store excess green energy in the event of a lot of sun and wind. A salt battery is also better able to retain energy for a long time without energy leaking away. A final advantage is that salt batteries can be charged and discharged frequently without decreasing battery capacity. Natron assumes about 50,000 charging cycles per battery. By comparison, the capacity of the lithium battery in your phone starts to wear out after just a few hundred charge cycles.