High-temperature batteries: Overview

The molten-metal batteries that ran grids long before lithium

What this tile covers Molten-electrode batteries that run hot. Share of use <.01% share of world stored energy (2025)

Share of the world's stored energy (energy capacity held, TWh, latest year 2019 to 2026) across the forms with figures, about 22,551 TWh; fuel stocks dominate. Battery and other stores count capacity, not state of charge About 5 GWh of sodium-sulphur batteries at more than 250 sites (NGK, reported 2025); ZEBRA cells add little. Source: Japan's NGK discontinues manufacturing of sodium-sulfur batteries, pv magazine / ESS News.

Key facts

Duration

Hours

Included from the reference tables

Sodium-sulphur
Sodium-nickel chloride (ZEBRA)

Linked to the material world

S Sulfur Ni Nickel

Also in Electrochemical

LFP Lithium iron phosphate batteries NMC Nickel-rich lithium-ion batteries SSB Next-generation lithium batteries Na+ Sodium-ion batteries PbA Lead-acid batteries NiB Nickel-based batteries VRF Flow batteries FeAir Metal-air batteries Zn Other and primary batteries

Explore paths from here

More on this tile in the tabs above: science and technology, engineering and performance, economics, impact and additionality, what to track.