Technology has potential to save households up to 85% on energy bills
Energy storage technology company Superdielectrics has unveiled its next-generation aqueous polymer battery, named the Faraday 2. It marks a major milestone for the Cambridge-based company to provide safe, sustainable, and cost-effective energy storage alternatives to lithium-ion batteries.
Household electricity bills could be cut by 85% or more using the fridge-sized residential energy storage unit. The Faraday 2 builds on the success of the Faraday 1 prototype.
Superdielectrics used contact lens polymers, abundant and non-toxic materials, with no critical or rare earth metals. Their technology is internationally patented and has a full charge time of 30 minutes. Surplus renewable energy is stored in the battery, allowing for flexible energy tariffs and creates greater energy independence for homes.
Jim Heathcote, CEO of Superdielectrics, said: “The launch of Faraday 2 is a major step towards a low cost and clean energy future, as well as a key milestone for us as we work towards a commercial product. As the world shifts towards renewable energy, storage is the technological bottleneck. Our technology is low cost, safe and recyclable, helping the world in the global transition to sustainable energy.”
Julian Lennertz, chief commercial officer at E.ON Next, said: “The transition to cleaner energy is about making that energy more affordable and sustainable, and our partnership with Superdielectrics is one of a huge number of ways we are working to help customers take control of their energy by making energy storage widely available.”
Europe’s rapidly expanding renewable energy sector is helped by the batteries, whilst also helping with energy costs amid a cost-of-living crisis.
Lennertz added: “We are delighted to be a part of the Superdielectrics journey, sharing insight into how millions of customers use energy and what they need to benefit from a smarter energy system. The launch of Faraday 2 is an important milestone in the evolution of battery design using readily available materials – and is yet another world-leading innovation designed and developed in the UK.”
Thermal runaway risk is reduced as 50% of the technology is water-based, decreasing the risk as a fire hazard, whilst not using critical metals means more secure supply chains and cheaper raw materials, reducing overall cost. Materials are instead readily available and recyclable.
The batteries have the potential for long lifecycles, outlasting existing battery technology. Current research and development efforts are underway to surpass lithium-ion energy capacity, with lead-acid batteries already outperformed.
