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After 10 years in development, Queensland battery technology company PowerCap has officially launched an innovative sodium-ion based battery storage system that is said to be a safer and more sustainable alternative to lithium-ion, the dominant player in the renewables sector.
The PowerCap sodium-ion battery was officially launched today ahead of a market release next year with the system described by company founder and CEO Dane (Ahmed) El Safty as a “major leap forward in energy storage”.
PowerCap’s POD system – an acronym for Power On Demand – is said to “bridge public appetite for a green transition with an affordable energy solution” by providing a sodium-ion battery storage system that can be applied to a range of applications from charging EVs to everyday household electrical items.
PowerCap’s sodium ion batteries are also said to last longer than lithium-ion batteries, delivering high-power and high-energy-density storage systems that can last more than 15 years while also being fully recyclable.
“The PowerCap battery is an advanced energy storage system that utilises sodium-ion technology as a safer and more sustainable alternative to traditional lithium batteries,” says El Safty, a former petrochemical engineer who turned his attention to sustainable energy solutions over the past decade.
“Our PODs are a major leap forward in energy storage, and we can't wait to see PowerCap make a real difference.
“As the energy sector continues to grapple with challenges surrounding grid reliability and the high cost of transitioning to renewables, we believe PowerCap will play a crucial role in moving us toward a cleaner, more reliable, and affordable energy future for Australia and international markets.”
PowerCap has a research and development facility at Pimpama on the Gold Coast, on the site previously occupied by Gilmour Space Techology, and is headquartered in the city’s north at Stapylton along with another El Safty company, distribution partner Zero Emissions Developments.
PowerCap’s systems provide multiple stationary and mobile power solutions for high-voltage commercial and general household uses.
The company’s POD solar battery system is said to deliver a “seamless plug in and play experience” to provide households with more affordable energy via solar and off-peak charging.
“Utilising a lightweight compound made in Australia from recycled plastics, bio-waste, and sodium derived from water desalination, this clean technology achieves a zero-carbon footprint,” says Chris Dryden, PowerCap’s general manager of product development and manufacturing.
“Compared to lithium, sodium-ion batteries are not only longer lasting, safer, cleaner and more affordable, but also 100 per cent recyclable at the end of their lives.
“Made from salt sustainably sourced from the ocean, our development process is non-invasive and uses more readily available resources compared to lithium batteries.”
PowerCap says its technology has been developed following a “decade of rigorous research and development”.
“From commercial enterprises to residential solar users, the sodium-ion technology has a built-in proprietary energy algorithm that allows operators to buy and sell energy from the grid efficiently and cost effectively,” says Dryden.
“Domestic batteries can shift electricity loads from peak periods to off-peak periods, provide power during blackouts, and reduce, or even eliminate, power bills and environmental impact from electricity generation.”
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