The Future of Energy Storage

Today we sat down with the President and CEO of BioLargo, Inc., Dennis P. Calvert, whose company has developed some outside-the-box innovations in areas like advanced water treatment, air quality control, and most recently – battery energy storage. The company’s Cellinity™ battery uses a unique “liquid sodium” chemistry that imparts serious advantages such as better lifespan, non-reliance on rare earth elements or precious metals, lower lifecycle costs, and our favorite – no fires.

BioLargo’s battery technology also has an interesting history, having originally been invented by a team of renowned electrochemists and battery technologists attached to the University of Tennessee. Together this team formed companies to commercialize a wide variety of battery technologies aimed at myriad industrial purposes, but not the liquid sodium battery. Sadly, two of the co-inventors passed away quite suddenly, and the liquid sodium battery was left uncommercialized. Decades later, one of the surviving co-inventors, endeavoring to fulfill the vision represented by this unique and powerful battery technology, teamed up with BioLargo to finally commercialize it.

Enjoy this interview with Dennis as he walks us through the challenges and opportunities in the battery energy storage space, and explains why he believes Cellinity has the chance to revolutionize the industry.

TDQ: Thanks for sitting down with us to teach us about your innovative battery technology. Let’s start with first principles. What’s the difference between a lithium-ion battery and your liquid sodium battery, technically speaking?

Dennis Calvert: Lithium-ion batteries have been revolutionary, enabling the beginning of a global transition toward cleaner energy. But while they’ve been widely adopted, they’re not without their flaws and drawbacks that create gaps in the marketplace. Our liquid sodium battery, Cellinity, was developed by brilliant scientists who were able to fill gaps such as supply chain, safety and long-term use.

For example, lithium is a rare element with a complex, geopolitically sensitive supply chain where a foreign adversary – China – dominates the market, creating supply risks. Our Cellinity battery is made from common elements found in nature all over the world and has none of these risks. Additionally, lithium mining, while technically advanced, is expensive and generates toxic waste streams.

Safety is another issue. Lithium batteries are prone to a phenomenon called “thermal runaway,” where a single overheating or damaged cell can ignite adjacent cells, causing catastrophic fires. Our liquid sodium battery is safe – it can’t overheat, and a damage cell won’t explode or catch fire. It eliminates the risks of fire with lithium batteries, offering safer, more sustainable energy storage. 

Our Cellinity battery is also better suited for long-duration applications because it doesn’t suffer from self-discharge or internal degradation, any one with a cell phone or laptop knows is a problem with lithium batteries.

TDQ: Why is there such a global focus on developing non-lithium batteries? What’s driving this trend?

Dennis Calvert: The world is demanding more efficient, scalable, and sustainable energy storage solutions. Energy storage is fundamental to renewable energy’s success. As demand surges, particularly with the rise of AI, big data, and renewable energy, the world is running into bottlenecks for energy storage. Society can’t produce enough batteries, lithium or otherwise, to meet global demand. To enable renewable energy to compete with traditional energy sources, we need better storage solutions to balance supply and demand effectively, and ones that are more effective and purpose-suited to long duration energy storage compared to lithium-ion. 

TDQ: Why is the demand for energy storage so urgent now?

Dennis Calvert: The urgency comes from several factors. First, demand is skyrocketing due to advancements in technology and the transition to renewables. Second, renewable energy sources like solar and wind are intermittent. You can’t generate power when the sun isn’t shining or the wind isn’t blowing. Storage allows energy to be collected at low-cost production times and delivered when demand peaks, making renewable energy more competitive. Renewable energy often struggles with intermittency which can exacerbate the need for efficient storage to deliver energy in times of peak demand.

The grid itself is also under strain. Without enhanced storage capabilities, we will face more frequent brownouts, which are unacceptable to consumers and mission critical operations. For instance, if affluent areas  start experiencing power outages, it will drive significant investment into storage solutions.

Finally, the world is moving toward decentralized energy systems, or microgrids, where local energy generation, storage, and distribution reduce reliance on large, centralized grids. Batteries are critical to this transition.

TDQ: Let’s talk safety. Is the fire risk with lithium batteries as big a deal as it seems?

Dennis Calvert: Yes, it’s significant. Lithium batteries struggle in high temperatures and require cooling systems to prevent overheating which creates a parasitic load to power the cooling system, reducing the amount of deliverable energy for other purposes. If one cell overheats or is damaged, it can trigger a chain reaction known as “thermal runaway,” which is extremely difficult to control. 

Battery manufacturers are already facing significant backlash from communities that want these factories to be located away from population centers (“not in my backyard”) due to the potential fire risk. Last month, a lithium fire in an energy storage facility in Moss Landing, California, burned for five days, destroyed an estimated 80% of the batteries, and spread toxic smoke and fumes for miles. Nearby residents were told to shelter-in-place and are already reporting health issues. Scientists have recorded alarmingly high concentrations of heavy metals used in lithium ion batteries in soil samples near the plant, suggesting there could be long-term environmental and health effects from the toxic blaze. This risk is particularly concerning in residential settings. For example, California requires battery storage for new solar installations. But do you want a lithium battery in your garage next to a gas-powered vehicle? Insurers are beginning to raise concerns, with some refusing to cover homes with lithium battery storage. These risks are making people reconsider the widespread use of lithium in certain applications.

TDQ: You’ve mentioned that safety is a key feature of your liquid sodium battery. Can you explain why it’s safer?

Dennis Calvert: Our battery design inherently eliminates the risk of runaway fire. If the battery is pierced or damaged, the cells short out and stop functioning instead of igniting. It does not contain the extremely flammable electrolytes that are a fundamental component of a lithium battery. This makes it a much safer option for homes, businesses, and large-scale energy storage. 

TDQ: What about durability? Does BioLargo’s liquid sodium battery last long enough to compete in the industry?

Dennis Calvert: Absolutely. Our battery has no internal degradation, unlike lithium-ion or sodium-ion batteries, which suffer from dendrite buildup over time. This means our battery can maintain performance over thousands of cycles. 

We’ve tested our battery over thousands of cycles, and based on the body of data we’ve collected we’re comfortable predicting a 20-year lifespan for our batteries. That’s double the typical lifecycle of lithium-ion batteries. A longer lifespan reduces lifecycle costs, making it more economical over time.

TDQ: On a similar topic, is your battery a so-called “long duration energy storage” battery? 

Dennis Calvert: Yes, you nailed it. Grid-scale energy storage and renewable energy storage really work best with what is called long-duration energy storage (LDES) batteries, which can dispense their energy over a longer period of time – in other words they take longer to be depleted. This makes sense if you think about it: if a town is relying on a battery farm to smooth out energy supply during peak times, or more importantly, during a brownout, then a battery that only lasts two or four hours isn’t good enough. Our battery is an LDES battery, meaning it can be designed to dispense energy over up to ten or twelve hours if need-be. This is due to characteristics in its chemistry; it’s very efficient as well as energy dense.

TDQ: Ethical and sustainable sourcing is a hot topic. Where do the materials for your liquid sodium battery come from?

Dennis Calvert: All materials for our battery can be sourced domestically, whether it’s in the U.S., Europe, or elsewhere. This ensures a more ethical and sustainable supply chain. Unlike lithium-ion batteries, which often rely on cobalt and nickel mined in countries with controversial labor and environmental standards, our battery uses readily available materials. The innovation lies in the engineering, not the raw materials.

TDQ: You recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at your pilot facility in Tennessee. Can you tell us about that?

Dennis Calvert: It was a milestone worth celebrating. We’re validating the technology’s claims and showcasing our manufacturing capabilities. When partners see the production process firsthand, it builds confidence. The event was aimed at strategic partners and potential investors who are considering collaborations to scale our technology globally.

TDQ: What are your next steps for commercializing this technology? How soon could it make an impact?

Dennis Calvert: The focus now is on scalability. First, we’re proving the technology through third-party validation. Next, we’re refining the production process to manufacture the battery components in-house, ensuring precision and scalability. 

A high-volume manufacturing facility could take two to two and a half years to build. Each factory would produce millions of cells annually, generating significant revenue while meeting growing demand. The key is advancing engineering, building credibility, and forming strategic partnerships to finance and scale the technology globally.

TDQ: Once you get past the challenges of scalability and are ready for market, what will your business model be? Surely building battery manufacturing facilities can’t be cheap.

Dennis Calvert: Right on again. This is the Herculean task of commercializing a battery technology – building out scaled manufacturing can be extraordinarily costly. Our solution is simple – we are not going to do it by ourselves. In keeping with BioLargo’s business philosophy of building up qualified partners to maximize the potential of our technologies, we intend to pursue what is effectively a “franchise” manufacturing model, whereby partners would own and operate Cellinity factories of various sizes depending on the regions they serve, and our company would run on royalties and licensing fees. It’s a great business model because it’s less capital intensive for us, and it’s very free-cashflow rich. And for our partners, they’ll get to participate in the significant financial rewards of owning a factory that is likely to sell every battery it builds, all the while creating significant socio-economic benefits for the region it serves.

TDQ: Finally, what’s your vision for how this technology could change the world?

Dennis Calvert: Our vision starts with creating a better battery—one that lasts longer, costs less over its lifecycle, and eliminates safety and supply chain concerns. A better battery enables the deployment of microgrids, balances the grid, and accelerates the transition to renewable energy.

By addressing the limitations of current battery technology, we’re empowering a more sustainable and resilient energy future. This isn’t just about making a better battery; it’s about transforming how the world generates, stores, and uses energy. Our liquid sodium battery has the potential to be a cornerstone of this transformation, meeting the demands of an increasingly electrified world.