Sodium-Ion Batteries: Building the Foundation for a Greener Future via Life-Cycle Assessment and Techno-Economic modelling

A Meta-Analysis for Sodium-based battery inventories, degradation models and
assessment of Sustainable Energy Storage of the future.
An opportunity for 2 students to take on this project and be part of cutting-edge research!

Background

This project is part of ongoing research project (between KTH and industrial stakeholders) with the goal to develop new, systematic, methodology and models, for life cycle assessment (LCA) of stationary energy storage systems (SESS); support decision-making, planning, design and policy; and investigate new and emerging SESS technologies. SESS serve a pivotal role in energy grid management and balancing; however, their environmental impact is seldom thoroughly investigated. In support of this, it is crucial to properly understand system operation in different conditions, the economic value of such applications/services, and the environmental consequences of such systems, and the implications of new technologies to reduce/offset environmental impacts. New and upcoming battery chemistries and storage technologies present challenges for the understanding of their practical operational implications and potential footprint from published sources. We aim to address and overcome those challenges.

Objective

Sodium-Ion Batteries (SIBs) play an emerging role on the (stationary) ESS market. Despite their lower energy density (compared to Lithium-Ion Batteries – LIBs), their (potentially) lower costs and footprint make them attractive for stationary applications, where affordability, security and operation are prioritised over volumetric density. Hence, comparison with established technologies, such as LIBs and Nickel-Cadmium, is becoming more important. However, the LCA community heavily relies on estimated inventory data (materials and energy demand) and primary (confidential) information. Furthermore, understanding battery degradation is crucial for operational simulation and performance projections (using techno-economic and environmental indicators such as LCOE and CO2eq footprint); and there is a need to understand how degradation is estimated to affect SIBs. For these reasons, the objective of this study is to: (1) perform a meta-analysis of SIB chemistries and their material inventories, (2) compile a dataset with said inventory data, perform LCI analysis & use in models, (3) investigate degradation estimations, (4) provide an assessment of compiled data and analysis, with an outlook for future work and use the produced dataset in the LCA community. The master students will perform a thorough investigation of the published and available information on SIBs, focusing on Metal-Oxide chemistries and Prussian (Blue) Analogues. There is a possibility of directly communicate with relevant Swedish battery producers. This information will be compiled and published as Life-Cycle Inventory for representative Sodium-chemistry batteries to be used by the research and industrial community in the future. The students will also have an opportunity to partake in the first steps of a scientific publication and be referenced as co-authors in a journal publication. Additionally, contact with industrial partners in, and after the project is possible.

Research Area

Data collection, Meta-Analysis, Life-Cycle Assessment, Batteries, Stationary-systems, Python, Excel

Description/tasks

• Outline a manuscript draft for publication of the produced meta-analysis

• Prepare a mid-term seminar focusing on the literature review outcome and proposed next steps for the modelling phase • Life-Cycle Inventory and data collection outcome

• LCI Analysis model (Python, Excel)

• Final Thesis Report and a presentation for the relevant stakeholders