Altech Batteries has successfully completed rigorous destructive safety tests on its Sodium-Nickel-Chloride battery technology, demonstrating exceptional resilience and intrinsic safety under extreme conditions.
- Sodium-Nickel-Chloride batteries passed fire, impact, overcharge, and submersion tests with no thermal runaway or explosions
- Cells remained intact after 30 minutes in 850°C gasoline fire and survived ballistic impacts with only minor smoke
- Battery modules endured 10-metre drops, 48 km/h crashes, and 2.5-hour saltwater immersion without leakage or voltage loss
- Overcharge at 145% nominal voltage caused no swelling or heat generation, exceeding international safety standards
- Results confirm SNC chemistry as a leading safe alternative for UPS, stationary, and transport energy storage applications
Altech Batteries’ Safety Milestone
Altech Batteries Limited (ASX, ATC) has announced a significant breakthrough in battery safety validation for its Sodium-Nickel-Chloride (SNC) technology. The company completed an extensive series of destructive tests designed to simulate the harshest real-world hazards, including direct fire exposure, mechanical impacts, overcharging, and submersion in saltwater. Across all scenarios, the SNC batteries demonstrated remarkable chemical stability and mechanical integrity, with zero incidents of thermal runaway, fire, or explosion.
Robust Performance Under Extreme Conditions
The tests included exposing fully charged cells and modules to a 30-minute gasoline fire at 850°C, where the battery casings remained sealed and intact without leakage or rupture. Mechanical abuse was simulated through rod penetration, 10-metre drops, and vehicle crash impacts at 48 km/h, all of which resulted in only minor physical damage without compromising battery safety or performance. Even ballistic testing with shotgun and rifle rounds produced only brief smoke, with no ignition or structural failure.
Exceeding International Safety Standards
Altech’s SNC batteries also excelled in electrical abuse tests. Overcharging at 145% of nominal voltage, significantly beyond the UL 1973 certification limit, caused no swelling, venting, or heat generation. Additionally, modules submerged in saltwater for 2.5 hours showed no external reaction or voltage loss, underscoring the sealed stainless-steel casing’s effectiveness in protecting the battery’s internal chemistry.
Intrinsic Safety Through Solid-State Chemistry
The company attributes this outstanding safety profile to the SNC battery’s solid-state architecture, which eliminates flammable liquid electrolytes and relies on a ceramic β-alumina solid electrolyte that prevents short-circuit propagation. The sealed stainless-steel casing and self-regulating sodium-nickel-chloride chemistry further enhance safety by preventing gas generation and energy overshoot, common risks in lithium-ion and lead-acid batteries.
Strategic Implications and Market Positioning
Managing Director Iggy Tan highlighted that these results validate long-term field data and position Altech’s SNC batteries as a compelling solution for energy storage applications requiring high safety standards, such as uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), stationary storage near population centers, and transport. As regulatory scrutiny intensifies around battery safety, Altech’s non-flammable, chemically stable technology offers a distinct advantage over conventional lithium-ion systems.
Beyond safety, Altech is advancing commercialisation through partnerships with AMPower, a major SNC battery manufacturer, and is progressing projects like the CERENERGY solid-state battery production facility in Germany. These developments underscore the company’s commitment to delivering safer, longer-lasting, and environmentally sustainable energy storage solutions.
Bottom Line?
Altech’s SNC batteries set a new benchmark for safety, but market adoption will hinge on scaling production and competitive positioning against entrenched lithium-ion technologies.
Questions in the middle?
- How soon will Altech scale up commercial production of SNC batteries following these safety validations?
- What are the cost implications of SNC technology compared to lithium-ion for large-scale energy storage?
- How will regulators and insurers respond to SNC’s demonstrated safety advantages in critical infrastructure applications?