New non-flammable battery provides 10 times greater energy density: what is known

Alsym cells do not contain dendrites and immune to conditions that can lead to thermal runaway and its catastrophic consequences.

Alsym Energy's high-performance, non-flammable and non-toxic batteries could well replace lithium-ion batteries. They also support a wide range of discharge durations, writes interestingengineering.com.

Metal-oxide batteries use a mechanism similar to that of lithium-ion batteries, with the working ion moving between the anode and cathode. While Alsym batteries are similar in functionality to lithium-ion cells, they use non-flammable, non-toxic materials and a water-based electrolyte. This design prevents the formation of dendrites, preventing thermal runaway and its potentially catastrophic consequences.

The company believes its batteries, which are currently being tested with prospective customers around the world, have huge potential to decarbonize the high-emission industrial manufacturing sector, and it sees other applications ranging from mining to powering data centers, homes and utilities.

Alsym claims to use sustainable, non-toxic materials, which reduces environmental impact and supply chain risks.

The company also offers more flexible storage times, from 2 to 110 hours, making its batteries suitable for a variety of energy storage needs. And it stands out for its high performance in terms of round-trip efficiency (RTE), power output and charging speed. Finally, the company says the normalized cost of storage is comparable to or lower than that of lithium-ion for stationary storage solutions.

Alsym claims its devices are a safe and non-toxic alternative to lithium cells. Unlike lithium-ion batteries, which can pose a fire hazard, the Alsym battery is designed to avoid these risks, offering a safer solution for residential and commercial applications.

Compared to other non-lithium batteries, the Alsym Green has 2-10 times the energy density, making it a more compact and powerful solution for 20-foot DC container units. It also has a best-in-class round trip efficiency (RTE) of 92%, fast charging (C/4), low self-discharge (<0.25% per day) and adjustable discharge duration from 2 to 110 hours. Overall, it has a performance profile that no other non-lithium battery can match.

While the batteries do not reach the energy density of lithium-ion counterparts, Alsym is the first among alternative chemistries at the system level — 20-foot containers can provide 1.7 MWh of electricity.