AMTE Power receives certification for sodium-ion cell
UK developer and manufacturer of lithium-ion and sodium-ion battery cells, AMTE Power, has received UN38.3 transportation testing certification for a sodium-ion cell.
The accreditation for its Ultra Safe sodium-ion product is part of the firm’s commercialisation plans, allowing it to access global markets as an essential standard for the safe transportation of cells. The protocol includes identifying/classifying cells; testing/qualification requirements; design guidance/conditions and packaging/shipping obligations.
Alan Hollis, CEO at AMTE Power, welcomed the news, stating that battery energy storage will play a “fundamental role” in decarbonisation.
He said: “Sodium-ion batteries are fast becoming an alternative to lithium counterparts, particularly for energy storage applications. Our sodium-ion cell has been specifically developed with these applications in mind, providing a safe, stable solution that doesn’t add to pressure on lithium stocks. We are seeing growing demand for our market leading technology used in the Ultra Safe product, and achieving UN38.3 certification marks a major milestone in our plans to scale up production to meet our customers’ needs.”
Hollis also said the cells have been incorporated into 12 and 43-volt battery packs developed by AceOn for mobile energy storage, with performance demonstrated through powering an inverter system at the Renewable Energy Workshop and Mobile Solar Power Energy Storage System Demonstration (REWED).
Mark Thompson, managing director at AceOn, said: “Sodium-ion batteries are the next big development in battery technology. As far as I am aware we are the first company to have UK-developed sodium-ion battery packs in our hands.
“The fact that we are collaborating with a UK manufacturer in AMTE Power, and developing and building the packs in the UK ourselves, is vitally important for the country. It represents a real step-change in battery chemistry and offers huge opportunities across a range of industries and applications.”
Image courtesy of AMTE Power