Posh Electric, a fully owned subsidiary of Posh Energy in Singapore, has received funding from the Energy Market Authority (EMA) of Singapore to test an energy storage system (BESS) that uses sodium-ion batteries. The initiative aims to facilitate Singapore’s shift to renewable energy by providing scalable and ecologically friendly energy storage systems.
At the Utraco factory, POSH will lead the creation and use of a 1-megawatt-hour sodium-ion BESS to manage the ups and downs of solar energy, working together with Utraco Pte Ltd and the Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE) from Singapore. To store renewable energy, this BESS will be integrated with 600 kW of rooftop solar arrays. This will allow loads to shift and reduce the erratic nature of solar electricity. The cost-effectiveness, improved safety features, and natural abundance of sodium make sodium-ion batteries a viable substitute for lithium-ion batteries. Since sodium is more prevalent than lithium by a factor of 1,000, its extraction is less complicated and has a smaller environmental impact. With the world’s lithium demand predicted to double by 2030, sodium-ion batteries present a more cost-effective and environmentally friendly option.
Dr. Wesley Zheng, CEO of POSH, stated, “We are thrilled to have received support from the Energy Market Authority for this landmark project. We have, over the years, developed unique battery control hardware and software solutions to manage a wide variety of battery chemistries, including sodium-ion batteries. By harnessing sodium’s natural abundance and integrating it with renewable energy solutions, we aim to provide a sustainable and scalable alternative to conventional battery technologies. This grant is a testament to the innovative approach taken by POSH in battery system integration, and we are eager to demonstrate its benefits to Singapore and beyond.”
