[Gys]

Lithium supply is limited. So an alternative based on abundant materials is interesting for that reason I guess?

[_aavaa_]

Lithium is not that limited, current reserves are based on current exploration. More sources will be found and exploited as demand grows.

And if you want an alternative, sodium batteries are already coming online.

[cogman10]

In fact, the limiting element for Li chemistries is generally the Nickel. Pretty much everything else that goes into these chemistries is highly available. Even something like Cobalt which is touted as unavailable is only that way because the industrial uses of cobalt is basically only li batteries. It's mined by hand not because that's the best way to get it, but because that's the cheapest way to get the small amount that's needed for batteries.

Sodium iron phosphate batteries, if Li prices don't continue to fall, will be some of the cheapest batteries out there. If they can be made solid state then you are looking at batteries that will dominate things like grid and home power storage.

[standeven]

It's also very recyclable, so big batteries that reach end of life can contribute back to the lithium supply.

[Tade0]

There are over 200 billion tonnes of lithium in seawater, it's just the least economical out of all sources of this element.

There are plenty more, but they're explored only when there's a price hike.

[cogman10]

AFAIK, the brine pits are pretty economical, they just require ocean access.

What I'm somewhat surprised about is that we've not seen synergies with desalination and ocean mineral extraction. IDK why the brine from a desalination plant isn't seen as a prime first step in extraction lithium, magnesium, and other precious minerals from ocean water.

[namibj]

We have 10 years of 2021 global energy production (including oil/coal/gas!) of LFP in the oceans; but yes, sodium batteries are probably cheaper.