Professor Donald Sadoway of MIT has been named the winner of the 2022 European Inventor Award in the category for Non-European Patent Office Countries after creating liquid metal batteries that may allow for the long-term storage of renewable energies.
Storing Renewable Energy On A Big Scale
According to António Campinos, President of the European Patent Office, Donald Sadoway's invention is a significant step towards the implementation of carbon-free electricity generation since it makes it possible to store renewable energy on a big scale.
On June 21, in Munich's Bavaria Studios, the 2022 European Inventor Award event recognized Professor Sadoway's work.
According to SciTechDaily, this is one of the most renowned invention prizes in Europe. The award is given yearly to exceptional inventors from around the globe who have made outstanding contributions to society, technology, and many more.
Sadoway said in his speech that the liquid metal batteries he invented aimed to address an "existential threat" to the state of the Earth's atmosphere due to climate change.
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Three Liquid Layers
Three liquid layers of varying densities make up Sadoway's liquid metal batteries, which gradually divide like how oil and vinegar separate. SciTechDaily noted that the metals were melted to form the top and bottom layers, while salt was melted to form the center layer.
The batteries must run at extremely high temperatures to keep the metals liquid. Therefore, Sadoway created a system that is self-heating, insulated, and does not require external heating or cooling.
They also have an average lifespan of over 20 years, can retain 99 percent of their power over 5,000 charging cycles, and contain no flammable elements.
Sadoway co-founded Ambri in 2010 to transform the batteries into a commercial product. He had a patent for his work and even gained Bill Gates' support.
Ambri is situated in Marlborough, Massachusetts, just outside of Boston. The business will shortly construct a unit for a data center in Nevada on a 3,700-acre site, according to SciTechDaily.
"The liquid metal battery is comprised of a liquid calcium alloy anode, a molten salt electrolyte and a cathode comprised of solid particles of antimony, enabling the use of low-cost materials and a low number of steps in the cell assembly process," written in Ambri's website.
Cells are shipped at room temperature and are inactive during transportation, which means that they have no cell voltage and cannot carry current, providing important safety benefits in their assembly and transportation.
The system's heaters warm the cells up to their operational temperature once they've been delivered on-site, activating them and enabling them to begin storing or releasing electrical energy.
Additionally, the reported on-site renewable generation capacity of 500 megawatts is stored in the cells, equivalent to a natural gas power plant!
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Written by Joaquin Victor Tacla
