High Temperature Energy Storage: NaS, NaMx and Molten Salt

The $2.5 billion global high temperature energy storage (HTS) market of 2020 is going to be dominated by the sale and construction of molten salt storage systems for concentrated solar power (CSP) plants. The HTS market is composed of three categories: sodium-sulfur (NaS) batteries, sodium-metal halide (NaMx) batteries, and molten salt thermal energy storage (TES) systems. While NaS has been the strongest category ever since the first commercial systems were sold in 2003, it is molten salt TES systems that became the largest HTS category in 2010.

After four years of strong growth, the NaS battery market showed an unprecedented negative value for 2010. Despite this bizarre showing, the NaS HTS category has the potential for huge growth in the short and medium term because companies such as RUBENIUS in Mexico and the Abu Dhabi Water and Electric Authority in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are building hundreds of megawatts of energy storage systems designed around NaS batteries. However, lack of investment by governments and institutions into fundamental NaS battery research means the battery chemistry will be overtaken by lithium-ion in its primary sales channel of utility scale energy storage, resulting in a market decline after 2017.

Although it has been NaMx's traditional market, sales of the battery for small electric vehicles (EVs) will virtually disappear by 2015. However, NaMx will continue to be a major battery type for electric and hybrid electric buses and small trucks. More noteworthy is the fact that the battery chemistry's recent push into the stationary storage market, particularly for remote telecommunications equipment, is going to show exceptionally strong growth in the medium and long term. From less than 10% of the category's sales in 2010, the stationary segment will be responsible for over half of the NaMx market by 2019. However, for NaMx batteries to effectively compete in the long term against lead-acid and lithium-ion batteries, more research into NaMx cell geometry and electrode chemistry that can operate at lower temperatures is going to be crucial to expanding overall sales of NaMx batteries by 2020.

Sales growth of molten salt TES systems (or really any thermal energy storage technology) is completely dependant on the growth of the global CSP market. Fortunately for this category, the legislation and regulation landscape for both renewable energy sources and grid energy storage is very favorable. By 2013 the U.S. will supplant Spain as the largest market for thermal energy storage and by 2015 more molten salt TES, by MWh, will be installed in the U.S. than in Spain. Both countries will continue to be strong growth regions through to 2020 due to continued CSP plant construction. However, other countries such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia will also begin to contribute significantly to the molten salt TES market by 2020.

The World Market for High Temperature Energy Storage by SBI Energy provides key insight into current and future markets for high temperature batteries and thermal storage worldwide, focusing on key countries for each market segment. The analysis includes definitions, current product offerings and market detail on the following segments:

• Sodium-sulfur (NaS) batteries - Typically used for grid load leveling applications.
• Sodium-metal halide (NaMx) batteries - Used for electric vehicles and stationary storage applications. Often referred to as ZEBRA batteries.
• Molten salt thermal energy storage (TES) - Used for CSP installations.

The report also analyzes the key industries that make use of high temperature energy storage for their end products. These include electric vehicles, stationary and industrial energy storage and Smart Grid energy storage requirements.

Report Methodology This report contains primary and secondary data obtained from government sources, trade associations and publications, business journals, scientific papers, company literature, investment reports, and interviews with industry professionals. Statistics on commodity prices comes from the International Monetary Fund; production cost indexes are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; statistics on stationary battery use in Europe come from the Association of European automotive and Industrial Battery Manufacturers (EUROBAT); CSP operating performance statistics comes from the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

What You'll Get in This Report The World Market for High Temperature Energy Storage provides a concise, focused look on the markets for high temperature batteries and thermal energy storage as they exist today, and shows where these markets are moving between 2011 and 2020. The report highlights key players in the HTS industry and pinpoints ways that current and prospective competitors can capitalize on recent trends and spearhead new ones. No other market research report provides both the comprehensive analysis and extensive data that The World Market for High Temperature Energy Storage offers. Plus, you'll benefit from extensive data, presented in easy-to-read and practical charts, tables and graphs.

How You'll Benefit from this Report If your company is considering investing in energy storage technology, or is involved in businesses that require energy storage for commercial motive, stationary or electricity production applications, you will find this report invaluable as it provides a comprehensive package of information and insight not offered in any other single source. You will gain a thorough understanding of the current market for high temperature energy storage products, as well as projected markets and trends for these technologies through 2020. The report also provides a concise view of the top application industries for commercial HTS products, outlining key drivers and barriers for these markets.

This report will help:

• Marketing managers identify market opportunities and develop targeted promotion plans for businesses looking to develop markets for both new and existing high temperature batteries and thermal energy storage.
• Research and development professionals stay on top of competitor initiatives and explore demand for high temperature energy storage as well as the downstream product market for sodium-sulfur and sodium-metal halide batteries.
• Advertising agencies working with clients in a host of market sectors such as telecommunications, electricity generation, transportation and industrial manufacturing to develop messages and images that compel businesses and industries to adopt HTS solutions for their energy storage needs.
• Business development executives understand the dynamics of the market and identify possible partnerships with raw material providers, key organizations and HTS manufacturers with unique products or processes. The report also provides crucial information on job creation that is spurred by HTS technologies.
• Information and research center librarians provide market researchers, brand and product managers and other colleagues with the vital information they need to do their jobs more effectively.