Yet another death knell sounded for lead-acid this week as a South African start-up announced plans to completely replace lead-acid batteries in southern Africa.
Based in Somerset West, BlueNova has joined Woodmead-based Reutech (whose former CEO, James Verster, now heads up BlueNova) to launch its lithium iron yttrium phosphate (LiFeYPO4) batteries which, the firm claims, are as cheap as existing lead-acid batteries and longer lasting.
And this is where the collaboration is focusing: not on attracting new business, but taking over that which already exists.
“We are not looking at a new market, like electric vehicles — we are seeing the local static energy storage industry,” said Verster.
One problem with lithium-ion has been its high cost.
“We intend to put the batteries in the user’s hand at below $550/kWh,” said Verster.
“These batteries are guaranteed to last more than 10 years which translates into a fixed cost of energy storage of $0.17/kWh for the next ten years. This is unheard of with lead-acid batteries where users pay more than $0.34/kWh (replaced once) over 10 years.”
Verster claims the safety of LiFeYPO4 is unparalleled, with no leaks and no maintenance required. Not a single cell has exploded in 15 years, he said.
“They have been shot with nails and bullets, thrown into fires, torn open (crash simulation) and short circuited. Not once has a thermal runaway occurred,” he said.
The batteries have an energy density of more than 100 Wh/kg, weighing a quarter of the lead-acid equivalent.
LiFeYPO4 batteries perform better at 40°C than at 25°C and will not degrade at high temperatures, unlike lead-acid.
When lead-acid batteries are solar charged, they sometimes fail to fully charge, losing capacity and requiring earlier replacement. There is no such problem with LiFeYPO4 batteries, according to Verster.
“You can partially charge them for days and when you give them a full charge they will deliver full capacity every time,” he said.
No sulfation occurs when the batteries are not cycled and a self-discharge rate of less than 2% per month means they can be stored for years without recharging them, and they are 100% recyclable.
“We see a big need for these storage solutions in residential, industrial and even utility-scale applications,” Verster said, adding that he believed the chemistry would eventually take over from lead-acid much as LED lights have replaced incandescent light bulbs.