Wedoany.com Report-Oct. 6, Peak Energy, a Denver-based company, announced the successful deployment and operation of the first grid-scale sodium-ion battery system in the United States at the Solar Technology Acceleration Center (SolarTAC) in Watkins, Colorado. First unveiled in July, the 3.5 MWh system, the largest sodium-ion energy storage project in the country, operates in collaboration with nine utilities and independent power producers (IPPs).

The sodium-ion battery system incorporates a patent-pending passive cooling design, eliminating the need for active cooling components, which reduces operational costs and enhances reliability. Utilizing sodium-ion phosphate pyrophosphate (NFPP) chemistry, the system performs effectively across a wide temperature range without auxiliary cooling, offering a cost-effective and safer alternative to lithium-ion batteries.

Peak Energy will collect and share operational and modeling data from the system’s real-world performance with its project partners. This data will inform the development of future energy storage solutions, with plans for commercial-scale projects starting in 2027. The initiative marks a significant advancement in scaling sodium-ion technology for grid applications to meet growing energy demands.

Landon Mossburg, CEO and co-founder of Peak Energy, stated: “Storage is critical to solving America’s dual energy crises of affordability and availability. With the lowest operating cost of any storage system in the market today, Peak Energy is proud to have developed a ready-to-deploy answer to energy affordability.” The system is designed to reduce lifetime costs by 20% and battery degradation by 33% over 20 years, providing significant savings for grid-scale applications.

The deployment supports efforts to enhance domestic energy storage capabilities, leveraging abundant U.S. soda ash reserves for sodium-ion battery production. This approach promotes a sustainable supply chain and strengthens energy security. The trial’s success is expected to attract further investment in sodium-ion technology, with Peak Energy planning to expand manufacturing through a U.S.-based facility by 2027, contributing to economic growth and improved grid reliability.