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Buy Battery only - Sodium

eelectric https://youtu.be/qgba-7G68AU explores a new development in residential energy storage: sodium-ion battery systems from the British startup Eleven Energy. While lithium-ion has been the standard for home energy, Eleven Energy argues that sodium-ion is a sustainable and efficient alternative for stationary home use (0:58 - 1:32).

Key Takeaways:

• Design and Modularity: The new battery design is modular and stackable, allowing homeowners to add capacity based on their specific needs, such as solar array size and energy consumption (1:35 - 2:33).
• Performance and Longevity: Testing has shown that these batteries are highly durable, retaining 85% of their capacity after 13,000 cycles, which is equivalent to daily use for 35 years (6:26 - 7:30).
• Sustainability and Safety: Sodium is one of the most abundant elements on Earth, sourced from salt. It is presented as a more ethically and environmentally responsible choice compared to lithium, and it offers better safety characteristics (7:38 - 10:57).
• Integration and Intelligence: The systems use smart inverters and an app that can automatically optimize energy usage based on weather forecasts, time-of-use tariffs, and home consumption, such as managing EV charging and immersion heaters (10:58 - 16:09).

Homeowner Experience:

The video visits two UK homes to see the systems in action. Owners chose these batteries for their sustainability, longevity, and high performance. They report that the systems are quiet, space-efficient, and have significantly reduced their energy bills by effectively managing solar exports and cheap overnight grid power (16:10 - 19:51).

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Add in Solar panel

9 years by including a typical solar panel setup

• Octopus Power Pack combines a car on lease and “free” charging in return for using the battery as part of Octopus Energy’s distributed grid
  • Cons right now is the singular choice of car they have which is a compact city run-a-about

• Share in Wind Farm and Renewable Infrastructure

  • Previously Ripple Energy (now in bankruptcy / administration)
    • there are programmes in the UK that allow you to purchase a share in a wind farm and have the electricity generated offset your energy bill. The primary example is Ripple Energy, a cooperative model where members buy shares in large-scale wind farms.
    • When you buy a share, you own a portion of the wind farm and receive the electricity it generates. This electricity is then used to offset your domestic energy bill through a direct reduction, based on the amount of power your share produces. You still pay standard charges and taxes, but the energy cost portion is reduced.
    • Savings: Members can save up to 26% on their electricity bills annually, with potential for greater savings when market prices are high.
    • Investment: You can start with as little as £25, and typical investments range around £1,700 for a share matching average household usage.
    • Long-term benefit: Projects offer savings over a 25-year period, providing long-term bill stability.
    • Eligibility: You must be supplied by one of Ripple’s partner energy suppliers, such as Octopus Energy, Co-op Energy, or M&S Energy, though you don’t need to switch if you’re already with them.
    • Ripple operated wind farms like Graig Fatha in Wales and is developing larger projects in Scotland. This model offers a way to co-own green infrastructure, reduce reliance on volatile energy markets, and support the UK’s clean energy transition.
    • Article describing the bankruptcy and what happens to the cooperative shareholders funds

  • What is the prospect of a model of holding shares in remote renewable energy infrastructure that link back directly to savings on the energy bill develop internationally?

    • The model of holding shares in remote renewable energy infrastructure linked to direct electricity bill savings has growing international potential, particularly through community ownership and shared renewable energy schemes.
    • Countries like Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands have long supported energy cooperatives, where citizens collectively invest in wind or solar farms and receive financial returns or bill credits based on generation. The EU’s Clean Energy Package promotes such models by enabling citizen energy communities (renewable energy communities or REScoops) that can generate, store, and sell energy, with members benefiting from reduced costs.
    • In the United States, community solar programs allow households to buy or subscribe to a portion of a solar farm’s output, receiving bill credits from their utility. While most U.S. models are subscription-based (not ownership), some projects—like those in Minnesota and New York—offer ownership stakes, providing long-term savings and equity.
    • Key drivers include:
      • Declining renewable costs and grid parity.
      • Supportive policies (e.g., net metering, tax incentives).
      • Digital platforms enabling transparent energy tracking and billing integration.
    • However, barriers remain:
      • Regulatory restrictions on energy sales and securities laws.
      • Limited access to tax incentives for community investors.
      • Grid interconnection and metering challenges.
    • Despite Ripple Energy’s administration, its model has demonstrated demand and viability, potentially inspiring future iterations in the UK and beyond.