The Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NOCCI) is advocating for electric cooperatives to adopt sodium-ion battery technology as an alternative energy storage solution to help address power supply problems in the Visayas.
Edward Du, president of NOCCI, told the Philippine News Agency Oct. 20 that sodium-ion batteries can be paired with solar power systems to store electricity for use when generation is insufficient or the main power supply is interrupted.
Unlike lithium-ion batteries, which use lithium ions to store and release energy, sodium-ion batteries use sodium ions as charge carriers.
Sodium is also more abundant and widely available than lithium, which could make sodium-ion batteries a more affordable option for large-scale energy storage as the technology advances.
Du said sodium-ion batteries offer potential safety and cost advantages over conventional battery systems, particularly for storing electricity generated from renewable energy sources.
He mentioned that an Australian-based firm is expected to sign an agreement with the Negros Oriental 1 Electric Cooperative (Noreco I) next month to pilot the technology in the province.
“We will be the first in the Philippines to utilize sodium-ion batteries, with Noreco I installing one unit each of one-megawatt power at its substations in Mabinay and Bais City,” Du said.
The proposed installations are expected to provide backup power during outages, helping the cooperative maintain service to its consumers while the main distribution system is affected.
Du said the technology could also support the integration of solar energy into the power distribution system by storing electricity generated during periods of strong sunlight for use when solar generation declines, or when demand increases.
He added that wider adoption of sodium-ion batteries could eventually enable commercial establishments and households to use stored renewable energy rather than relying heavily on diesel-powered generators during outages.
In addition to providing backup power, Du expressed hope that the technology could help resolve recurring low-voltage issues.
Du said the initiative could pave the way for a broader use of energy storage systems in Negros Oriental, particularly as the province explores cleaner, more reliable renewable energy alternatives to conventional power sources. ||
