# Molten Salt Batteries - Salt in Batteries? Source: https://ordergroup.co/blog/molten-salt-batteries/ Last updated: 2024-08-08 > Salt isn't what comes to mind when it comes to batteries. See why it makes perfect sense to base batteries on something you eat every day. ![Molten Salt Batteries - Salt in Batteries?](https://ordergroup.co/media/images/Molten_Salt_Batteries600_buYVZiy.width-2850.format-webp.webp) Molten Salt Batteries - Salt in Batteries? [Aleksander Jess](https://ordergroup.co/authors/aleksander-jess/), Former Copywriter | August 8, 2024 | 5 min read Table of Contents The brief Introduction Quick Chemistry Lesson Current Adoption Examples Conclusion The brief Salt isn't what comes to mind when it comes to batteries. See why it makes perfect sense to base batteries on something you eat every day. Introduction Salt isn't usually what comes to mind when you think of batteries or energy storage. Lithium-ion batteries are. They are in our phones and laptops, and they are even starting to be integrated into our energy grids. They have their advantages, but also numerous disadvantages that are hard to ignore. For example, do you remember when phones were igniting on planes and a certain make was banned from being carried on board? Lithium is highly reactive, overly so. Another component of lithium-ion batteries, [cobalt, is mined mostly in the Democratic Republic of Congo](https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2023/02/01/1152893248/red-cobalt-congo-drc-mining-siddharth-kara), and sadly, the conditions of the miners there are appalling. Lastly,[as the European Parliament's document states](https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/IDAN/2023/740064/IPOL_IDA(2023)740064_EN.pdf), "Nonetheless, European battery energy storage deployments are expected to plateau over the 2024 - 2027 period due to Li-ion scarcity." All of this means we must transition to a different technology, and fast. One alternative is attracting a lot of attention. Energy Management Systems (EMS) are already being paired with molten salt storage. But why salt? Quick Chemistry Lesson Salt is abundant on Earth. It can be found in our oceans, underground, and in our soil. It's highly valuable to us because of sodium, which shares many characteristics with lithium.**How is that possible?**Let's take a step back. To simplify, all atoms have the same two parts: the nucleus (the core) and the electron cloud (the electron orbits). Sodium and lithium both have a single electron in their outermost valence shell (you can call it the outer orbit). This configuration makes them highly reactive. When these electrons take part in chemical reactions, such as those in batteries, they can move easily, which is what makes the conduction of electricity possible.In molten salt batteries, salts are melted to create a liquid electrolyte that allows ions, particularly sodium ions, to move between the battery's electrodes. This is how the battery stores and releases energy. Using sodium instead of the more expensive and less abundant lithium offers a cost-effective alternative for large-scale energy storage. Sodium-based systems may also offer better safety and thermal stability than their lithium counterparts. Current Adoption Current Adoption of Molten Salt BatteriesCurrently, organizations and companies use Molten Salt Batteries (MSBs) for large-scale energy storage (as well as heat storage), helping to balance supply and demand in electrical grids & storing large amounts of energy in solar power plants. Some research is being conducted on using them in electric vehicles, but the high temperature they require poses challenges, so I wouldn't count on seeing them there.Advantages Driving the AdoptionThere are several advantages that drive the adoption of MSBs:Safety: They are non-flammable and have a low risk of thermal runaway, which makes them safer than other battery technologies.Long Cycle Life: MSBs can endure thousands of charge and discharge cycles, making them suitable for applications requiring durability and longevity. [According to research, they can withstand 4500 charge/discharge cycles with 80% capacity.](https://www.flashbattery.tech/en/molten-salt-batteries-operation-and-limits/)High Efficiency: They achieve high energy conversion efficiencies with low internal resistance, leading to less energy loss during operation.Scalability: Their modular design allows for easy adaptation to different energy storage needs, from small-scale systems to large grid-level installations.Comparing Molten Salt Batteries with Other TechnologiesHow do MSBs compare with rivaling technologies?1. Lithium-Ion BatteriesEnergy Density: Lithium-ion batteries have a higher energy density compared to molten salt batteries, making them more suitable for applications where space is limited, such as in electric vehicles and portable electronics.Operating Temperature: Lithium-ion batteries operate at ambient temperatures and do not require the high temperatures (250-300°C) that molten salt batteries do. This makes lithium-ion batteries more practical for everyday applications.Cycle Life: While lithium-ion batteries typically have a cycle life of 500-2,000 cycles, molten salt batteries can potentially exceed 4,500 cycles, offering longer life spans for stationary applications.Safety: Molten salt batteries have a significant safety advantage, as they are non-flammable and have a lower risk of thermal runaway compared to lithium-ion batteries, which can be prone to fires if damaged or improperly managed.2. Sodium-Ion BatteriesMaterial Availability: Sodium-ion batteries use sodium, which is abundant and inexpensive, similar to the raw materials used in molten salt batteries. This can make both technologies more sustainable and cost-effective in the long run.Performance: Sodium-ion batteries are still in the development phase and generally do not yet match the performance metrics of lithium-ion batteries. However, they can operate at lower temperatures than molten salt batteries, making them more versatile for various applications.Cycle Life: Sodium-ion batteries typically offer a shorter cycle life compared to molten salt batteries, which may make MSBs more appealing for applications requiring frequent cycling.3. Flow BatteriesScalability: Flow batteries, such as vanadium redox flow batteries, are highly scalable and can be easily adjusted for larger storage capacities. This scalability is also a feature of molten salt batteries, which can be modularly designed for different applications.Energy Density: Flow batteries generally have lower energy densities compared to lithium-ion and molten salt batteries, making them less suitable for applications where space is at a premium.Cycle Life and Efficiency: Flow batteries can offer long cycle lives and are capable of deep discharges without significant degradation, similar to molten salt batteries. However, they tend to have lower round-trip efficiencies compared to lithium-ion batteries.In short, if you need very high durability combined with high safety, molten salt batteries are your choice.![Molten Salt Batteries600](https://ordergroup.co/media/images/Tabelka_Molten_Salt_Batteries600_rDBAvmq.width-800.format-webp.webp) Examples Examples of Projects Using Molten Salt for Energy StorageCrescent Dunes Solar Energy ProjectThe Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Project is a 110 MW concentrated solar power (CSP) plant with 10 hours of molten salt energy storage located near Tonopah, Nevada. It was the first commercial-scale CSP plant in the U.S. to use a central receiver tower and advanced molten salt storage technology. Strictly speaking, it stores heat in molten salt rather than using molten salt batteries, and it also shows the risks: a leak in its hot salt tank kept the plant offline for months in 2016-2017, and its owner filed for bankruptcy in 2020.KyotoMolten salt solutions may also be used for thermal storage. [That's Kyoto's approach with their Heatcube](https://www.kyotogroup.no/heatcube), a thermal storage system rather than a battery (we built software for Kyoto, see our [case study](https://ordergroup.co/case-studies/kyoto-digital-twin-software/)). Heatcube enables energy load shifting: it stores energy from renewable sources when it is abundant so it can be used later. This way, energy is consumed when it is greenest and cheapest. The stored heat provides a reliable energy supply and reduces the impact of market fluctuations and political influences on pricing. Kyoto offers their solution both in a Heat as a Product (HaaP) model and in a Heat as a Service (HaaS) model. [For more information, visit their website.](https://www.kyotogroup.no/heatcube#:~:text=Product%20or%20service%3A%20Heatcube%20how%20you%20need%20it) Conclusion Molten salt batteries offer real benefits for our net-zero future. Their safety, their extremely long life & the ability to use them for both energy & heat storage make them well suited to many applications. With a limited supply of lithium and possible shortages of that element on the European market, molten salt batteries are poised to become an important part of the energy storage jigsaw puzzle. 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