Energy Dome has activated its first commercial-scale energy storage facility in Sardinia, Italy, with a capacity of 200 megawatt-hours, capable of powering approximately 18,000 homes for 10 hours. The company, founded in 2020 and based in Milan, plans to develop up to 30 gigawatt-hours of storage projects across five continents, leveraging its unique carbon dioxide battery technology that does not rely on specific geological formations. While the technology is estimated to be more cost-effective than lithium-ion for longer durations, it currently has only one operational plant and faces efficiency limitations compared to traditional batteries.
technologyreview.com
· 2026-10-06
Form Energy has developed a new iron-based battery technology capable of storing energy for up to 100 hours, utilizing a reversible rusting process. The company has begun commercial production at its West Virginia facility, with a 150 MWh system scheduled for deployment in Minnesota in 2027, and has secured multiple deals including a large project with Xcel Energy to power a Google data center between 2028 and 2031. These batteries aim to provide multiday energy storage to support renewable power integration and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
technologyreview.com
· 2026-10-06
WeLion New Energy has advanced its semi-solid-state battery technology, achieving an energy density of 824 wh/kg in testing during 2025. The company previously released a battery pack with 360 wh/kg in partnership with Nio, supporting over 1,000 km of range, though production costs limited its scale. Additionally, WeLion is developing batteries for maritime applications and exploring higher energy densities.
technologyreview.com
· 2026-10-06
Researchers are developing AI tools that can reconstruct images and mental content from brain activity, with hopes of aiding locked-in patients and studying dreams. Separately, startups are deploying small, distributed batteries in devices like induction stovetops and food carts as an alternative to large utility-scale installations facing community pushback over fire risks.
technologyreview.com
· 2026-10-01
American start-ups including Unigrid are developing sodium-ion batteries aiming for fully US-sourced supply chains, unlike lithium-ion batteries where China dominates materials and manufacturing. Unigrid's founder Tan says the company currently sources its sodium-ion cells from China but could shift to US suppliers later. Scientists have raised concerns that chromium-3 used in Unigrid's cathode could form toxic chromium-6 under certain conditions, though Tan and one outside researcher say the risk is manageable and the battery has passed safety certification.
bbc.co.uk
· 2026-09-29
Green Mountain Power (GMP) is using networked home batteries and software as a 'virtual power plant' to manage electricity demand instead of relying on traditional power plants. GMP says about half of the households enrolled in its battery programme also have solar panels installed.
bbc.com
· 2026-09-29
SteelSeries has released two new wireless gaming mice, the ergonomic Rival Pro and ambidextrous Sensei Pro, each weighing 53-54 grams. They use swappable circular batteries with a charging base station, and connect via ultra-wideband radio rather than standard 2.4GHz, which SteelSeries says gives 20 times the bandwidth and more consistent high polling rates. The mice also work with a new GG app feature called SuperSync that separates click and sensor polling rates.
theverge.com
· 2026-09-29
BYD Executive Vice President Stella Li said the company is in a "leading position" on solid-state battery technology and will release its first vehicle using the tech in 2027. This aligns with earlier statements from BYD battery subsidiary FinDreams, which said mass production of sulfide-based solid-state batteries would follow around 2030, with lithium iron phosphate batteries still used alongside them in lower-tier models.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-27
Leaker Digital Chat Station claims a major Chinese smartphone brand, likely Xiaomi, is testing steel-shell battery casings combined with stacked-cell manufacturing to boost energy density. The approach mirrors Apple's shift to rigid metal battery enclosures, seen in the iPhone 16 Pro and reportedly continuing in the iPhone 18 Pro Max, which is said to have a rated capacity around 5,391mAh. The goal, per the leak, is flagship phones with 9,000mAh to 10,000mAh batteries.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-25
A tech reviewer evaluated three newly launched home battery systems designed for easier installation than earlier models. The testing comes as electricity prices climb and power outages become more frequent for many households. The reviewer reported spending weeks hoping for an outage to properly assess how the batteries would perform during a real blackout.
fastcompany.com
· 2026-09-24
Lithium-ion cells age from heat and from time spent at the extremes of charge. Most of the folklore about charging habits is either obsolete or beside the point.
gokawiil.com
· 2026-09-22
MIT researchers led by Giovanni Traverso developed a battery coated in a rice-paper-like material that can power swallowable medical devices and then be fully broken down and absorbed by the body. The team tested the battery in pigs by powering an RFID tag that transmits data from inside the body and a device that electrically stimulates the stomach to release hunger-regulating hormones. The work, published in Nature Chemical Engineering, replaces toxic metals, organic electrolytes and plastic casings found in conventional batteries with non-toxic alternatives like magnesium and molybdenum.
nature.com
· 2026-09-21
GoKawiil