LONGi Solar HiMO 6 Explorer PERC 435 Wc
9th October, 2023Trina Solar Vertex S 430w
9th October, 2023Nickel-Iron Batteries
- Nickel-Iron battery 12/24 / 48V
- Available from 100 to 1200Ah.
- Lifespan of several decades.
- Maximum robustness.
- To 55 kWh at 48V.
- Compatible with inverters Victron, Studer, etc… ..
- Use in network / off-grid coupling.
- Shipping throughout Europe and USA.
- Consult us for a complete system.
Delivery time: 3 months
Nickel-Iron Edison Batteries
Nickel-Iron batteries are a very good choice for isolated sites where reliability and lifespan are the primary factors. We do not indeed find the degradation effects known in lead (stratification of the electrolyte, sulphation, alteration of the electrolyte, corrosion of the electrodes leading to internal short circuits), even on the best versions (OPZ). The average lifespan of a Nickel-Iron battery is more than 20 years in normal use, knowing that its electrolyte can be changed to revive its performance. Nickel-Iron batteries benefit from a century of hindsight and their behavior in the field has been widely studied and documented in the specialized literature (link). "
Cutaway view of the "original" Edison design ~ 1910.
Nickel-Iron Battery: the champion of longevity
Edison claimed at the time that his batteries were designed to last a century. Admittedly, as a brilliant businessman, Edison mastered the commercial argument, but there is a documented case of conditioning of Nickel-Iron batteries from 1934 where the capacity was recovered to 50% (link).
Obviously more expensive to buy than the best lead-acid batteries, justified by the cost of the raw material (nickel), the investment is amortized through a low total cost of ownership.
Their high tolerance to abuse (prolonged partial load, short-circuiting, extended deep discharges, mechanical shocks, freezing) allows great peace of mind, making them particularly suitable for difficult conditions of use, often found in off-line configurations. grid.
Set of Nickel-Iron drums from 1950
A “PERMA-BATTERIES” NiFe battery bank for a solar system on an isolated site!
Designed to last :
Never equaled for their robustness and longevity since their invention in 1901 by Thomas Edison & W. Jungner, however, they fell into disuse in the 1970s, dethroned by lead, which was cheaper, then by li-ion in the 1990s. The exceptional longevity of Nickel-Iron batteries can be explained chemically. (see PDF study).
The structural degradation of the elements that compose it (Iron electrode and Nickel electrode) is almost zero, thanks to an alkaline electrolyte which acts as a metal preservative, just like in Nickel-Cadmium batteries (conversely acid batteries). They were historically used in difficult conditions (subways, mines, military aviation…).
A "low-tech" design eliminates the risk of malfunction:
Nickel-Iron batteries use a non-flammable alkaline electrolyte, without flash point, composed of an aqueous solution of about 25% potash (KOH).
Devoid of environmental toxicity, without the emanation of harmful gases, there is no need for electronic battery control (BMS), unlike lithium batteries where the organic electrolyte does not provide a regulatory function in the event of overload. -charge.
The electrolyte can be changed by the user, using technical potassium hydroxide powder and distilled or ionized water. The flip side of this safe operation is that Nickel-Iron batteries have a lower efficiency (~ 80%) than lithium (> 95%).
The tubular design of the battery, where the materials of the electrodes are enclosed in finely drilled and nickel-plated tubes, allows for very high mechanical resistance (shocks).
This is why Edison had originally designed these batteries for use in automobiles.
Video report on Nickel-Iron batteries
Different types of arrangement possible, depending on the space available:
Compact version, 1m² of floor space for a capacity of 20 kWh!
An economical solution:
The TCO (total cost of ownership) allows you to assess the real cost of your battery fleet. It includes the initial purchase price, and all the preventive maintenance to be provided as well as the downtime and the possible replacement cost of an element of the battery park. Ni-Fe batteries are the only storage system whose lifespan is aligned with that of solar panels (> 30 years). An LCOE (“levelized cost of energy”) analysis compares the cost per kWh stored over the total lifespan of a storage system. Nickel-Iron batteries have one of the lowest rates on the market.
Safety signs must be affixed at the entrance to the battery technical room:
TECHNICAL ROOM BATTERY RISK LABELCapacity (Ah) | 100 Ah, 1000 Ah, 1200 Ah, 200 Ah, 300 Ah, 400 Ah, 500 Ah, 600 Ah, 700 Ah, 800 Ah, 900 Ah |
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Voltage (V) | 12v, 24v, 48v |