
The higher the value, the larger risk there is to supply. The percentage of an element produced in the top producing country. Low = substitution is possible with little or no economic and/or performance impact Medium = substitution is possible but there may be an economic and/or performance impact High = substitution not possible or very difficult. The availability of suitable substitutes for a given commodity. A higher recycling rate may reduce risk to supply. The percentage of a commodity which is recycled. The number of atoms of the element per 1 million atoms of the Earth’s crust. This is calculated by combining the scores for crustal abundance, reserve distribution, production concentration, substitutability, recycling rate and political stability scores. The Chemical Abstracts Service registry number is a unique identifier of a particular chemical, designed to prevent confusion arising from different languages and naming systems.ĭata for this section been provided by the British Geological Survey.Īn integrated supply risk index from 1 (very low risk) to 10 (very high risk). Where more than one isotope exists, the value given is the abundance weighted average.Ītoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons. This is approximately the sum of the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus. The mass of an atom relative to that of carbon-12. The transition of a substance directly from the solid to the gas phase without passing through a liquid phase.ĭensity is the mass of a substance that would fill 1 cm 3 at room temperature. The temperature at which the liquid–gas phase change occurs. The temperature at which the solid–liquid phase change occurs. The arrangements of electrons above the last (closed shell) noble gas. These blocks are named for the characteristic spectra they produce: sharp (s), principal (p), diffuse (d), and fundamental (f). The atomic number of each element increases by one, reading from left to right.Įlements are organised into blocks by the orbital type in which the outer electrons are found. Members of a group typically have similar properties and electron configurations in their outer shell.Ī horizontal row in the periodic table. Whether we begin using battery storage systems that are massive or home-sized, it seems that electricity from renewable sources like solar and wind might grow even faster if they have this supporting technology to go with them.A vertical column in the periodic table. For example, Wholesale Solar offers a back-up system for a 1,500 watt, six panel array for about $6,000. A similar system with off-grid capability and 21 solar panels would be about $15,000. SolarCity is also offering a home battery pack, but made by Tesla. There are much smaller grid-tied storage systems that can be used with home solar systems. Sadoway has emphasized the learning aspect of their research and testing, calling it “inventing inventors.” The company was formed to help accelerate the construction of larger and larger battery prototypes. Eventually, the team expanded to about twenty students and post docs in total, when funding came through. (Italian professor Alessandro Volta used copper, zinc and salt in his voltaic pile around the year 1800.)ĭavid Bradwell worked on implementing Professor Sadoway’s first design when he was a graduate student at MIT. His slogan about material selection is charming and illuminating: “If you want something that is dirt-cheap, make it out of dirt.” Initially he and his students used magnesium, antimony and salt. In a 2012 TED talk now with 1.4 million views, he explained, “electricity demand must be in constant balance with electricity supply,” which is challenging without good energy storage technology. He also said that a giant battery system would need to be: Professor Sadoway’s technology is supposed to become a commercial, viable, grid-scale battery storage system. It could help renewable energy grow faster, could prevent overall power overcapacity, and could also make the grid more secure and more reliable. He has about forty years of experience working with such technology.Ĭost-effective energy storage is often referred to as the “holy grail” of the energy industry.


The company was founded in 2010 to commercialize the liquid metal battery invented by Sadoway, and was originally called the Liquid Metal Battery Corporation. (The Office of Naval Research also has provided grants for their work.) Other than those three long-time investors, previous investors include the Deshpanded Center and the Chesonis Family Foundation. Donald Sadoway and David Bradwell, has received another $35 million in venture capital funding from KLP Enterprises, the family office of Karen Pritzker and Michael Vlock, and Building Insurance Bern, a Swiss insurance company, along with existing investors Khosla Ventures, Bill Gates, Total. Ambri, a startup founded by MIT chemistry professor Dr.
