Austrian Startup Launches Safer Battery for Businesses

A breakthrough in energy storage just got a lot safer, and companies can't wait to get their hands on it.

Salzstrom, an Austrian startup, just unveiled the SALT 110, a sodium-ion battery system designed for businesses that need reliable power without the safety risks of traditional lithium batteries. The system can pump out 110 kWh of energy and works in temperatures from negative 25 degrees Celsius to a scorching 55 degrees, making it perfect for warehouses, data centers, and factories.

The company started by creating sodium-ion batteries for homes, and the response blew past their expectations. Before the SALT 110 even officially launched, commercial customers were already knocking on their door asking for bigger versions.

Sodium might sound like a chemistry class flashback, but it's actually a game changer for energy storage. Unlike lithium, which requires environmentally damaging mining operations, sodium is one of the most abundant elements on Earth. You can literally extract it from seawater.

The SALT 110 packs serious performance too. It can handle 6,000 charge cycles at 95% efficiency, meaning businesses can charge and drain it thousands of times before it starts losing capacity. The compact design fits into tight spaces where traditional battery systems would never squeeze through.

Jürgen Ellensohn, who co-founded Salzstrom and handles sales, says the demand has been overwhelming. Many companies want alternatives to lithium specifically for safety reasons and sustainability goals. With the SALT 110, they're getting the first market-ready sodium battery cabinet built for European commercial use.

The timing couldn't be better. As businesses race to cut carbon emissions and secure reliable backup power, they need storage solutions that won't catch fire or require rare earth materials shipped halfway around the world.

The Ripple Effect

This isn't just about one company making better batteries. Salzstrom's success proves that sodium-ion technology is ready for prime time, potentially transforming how businesses store renewable energy worldwide.

When commercial energy storage becomes safer, cheaper, and more sustainable, more companies can afford to go green. That means more solar panels on warehouses, more wind power backing up data centers, and fewer diesel generators choking the air during power outages.

The first installations begin rolling out across Germany and Austria in early March. Companies interested in seeing the system can book appointments at Salzstrom's facilities now.

The future of energy storage just got a whole lot brighter, and it runs on salt.