After recently securing a 5-year contract extension of its contract with the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Fluor, through its Corporation’s Advanced Technologies & Life Sciences business line, has been chosen by Altris AB to deliver front-end engineering and design (FEED) services for the world’s first industrial-scale sodium-ion battery production facility in Sandviken, Sweden.
Altris is a Swedish company specializing in sodium-ion battery development. They focus on creating cathodes, electrolytes, battery cells, and designs to produce high-performance sodium-ion batteries.
Fluor and Altris AB - Feasibility studies for the new sodium-ion battery manufacturing plat in Sweden
Altris was born in one of the laboratories of Uppsala University in Sweden and is now taking its first steps to bring its patented innovative battery from conception to commercialization.
Altris’ sodium-ion batteries are known for their exceptional performance, offering a longer lifespan, flexibility in working temperatures, and enhanced safety. These sodium-ion batteries (shown below) are inherently sustainable and easy to recycle, being made from materials like salt, wood, iron, and air.
Altris AB's innovative sodium-ion battery vs. Lithium Batteries
Sodium-ion batteries and lithium-ion batteries are two distinct approaches to energy storage, differing mainly in their choice of charge carriers and materials. As its name states, sodium-ion batteries use sodium ions (Na+) as the charge carriers, whereas lithium-ion batteries utilize lithium ions (Li+).
Sodium-based devices have generated interest as an alternative to lithium-ion batteries due to several potential advantages:
- Abundant Raw Materials: Sodium is more abundant in nature than lithium, which can help reduce supply chain issues and potentially lower costs.
- Environmental Impact: The extraction of sodium is generally less harmful to the environment than lithium mining, making sodium-ion batteries a more environmentally friendly choice.
- Lower Cost: Sodium-ion batteries could be less expensive to produce because sodium is more cost-effective compared to lithium, which may lead to cost savings for manufacturers and consumers.
Characteristic | Sodium-ion Battery | Lithium-ion Battery |
Charge Carriers | Sodium ions (Na+) | Lithium ions (Li+) |
Material Abundance and Cost | Abundant and cost-effective | Less abundant and costlier |
Energy Density | Lower | Higher |
Overall Application Suitability | Grid storage, low-cost needs | Portable electronics, EVs |
Fluor and Altris AB - The Front-End Engineering and Design (FEED) Contract
Fluor will provide its services under a Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) contract, which is typically used for preliminary studies for innovative industries and new plants when there’s a need to investigate further and assess feasibility studies and has similarities with the first phase of Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) Agreements.
During the FEED phase, various preliminary studies are conducted to address technical issues, provide a rough estimate of the investment cost (CAPEX), and prepare the project for the eventual procurement of an EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) contractor.
The contract value for these services has not been publicly disclosed. However, Fluor Corporation confirmed that the project will be overseen from its office in Farnborough, England, and the completion of the project is expected in early 2024.
Fluor and Altris AB - FEED Contract - Fluor Leadership comments
Richard Meserole, the president of Fluor’s Advanced Technologies & Life Sciences business line, expressed the significance of this project by stating:
“This is a major step forward in battery evolution and the energy transition journey. We are thrilled that Altris turned to Fluor to help them bring this cutting-edge technology to market that will transform manufacturing to be safer and more sustainable. It is always rewarding when we can help our clients take ideas from concept to commercialization.”
