New Sodium Energy Storage Venture Reaffirms Commitment to Continue Operations Post-Natron Collapse

In a significant development for the renewable energy sector, Inlyte, a US-based energy storage startup, has announced plans to accelerate its manufacturing timeline in partnership with Swiss sodium battery specialist HORIEN Salt Battery Solutions. This move comes after the closure of sodium battery firm Natron, which resulted in the loss of 1,000 factory jobs.

Inlyte's strategic partnership with Southern Company, a leading energy provider, will see the demonstration of its energy storage technology in Birmingham, Alabama, with installation expected before the end of the year. The company has also appointed Alison Armstrong, Sandor Hollo, and Dilip Goswami to its executive team, marking a transition from technology development to commercial-scale production.

The new energy storage system, developed with Vital Energy Solutions, will have a capacity of 200 kilowatts and 4 megawatt-hours. This system will be integrated into a microgrid featuring a 570-kilowatt solar array at the Alliance Redwoods site in Occidental, CA. The Alliance Redwoods site expects to save approximately $300,000 annually on electricity bills once the microgrid is operational in 2027.

Inlyte's battery solution is non-flammable and maintains performance at high ambient temperatures, making it a promising alternative to traditional lithium-ion batteries. The company has also received a $4 million grant from the Energy Department through the agency's CiFER (Critical Facility Energy Resilience) program.

The energy storage system will provide two weeks of backup power in emergencies, eliminating the need for a diesel backup generator. Moreover, it will also provide backup power for a nearby water pump station essential for public water supply and firefighting efforts.

The planned start date for the production of the new sodium energy storage systems by Inlyte in the USA is April 2024. The company did not provide a detailed explanation, but US President Donald Trump's tariff wars and attacks on the domestic wind and solar industries may have played a role in Natron's closure.

EPRI (Electric Power Research Institute) will evaluate Inlyte's energy storage technology for at least one year, with results to be shared across a broad utility network. Inlyte anticipates replicating the Alliance model elsewhere for on-site renewable energy and energy storage.

As of earlier this week, Natron announced it is winding down operations at its Michigan headquarters and the North Carolina shop. The closure is a setback for renewable energy stakeholders who were counting on a new generation of low-cost batteries for wind and solar storage. However, with Inlyte's promising advancements, there remains hope for a sustainable future in energy storage solutions.

New Sodium Energy Storage Venture Reaffirms Commitment to Continue Operations Post-Natron Collapse