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Iowa State University professors Steve Martin and Patrick Johnson have secured a $459,000 grant from the Iowa Energy Center to develop safer and cheaper sodium-based batteries using materials like waste glass, biochar, and sulfur. The project aims to enhance energy storage systems to support Iowa's wind energy economy, particularly for balancing supply and demand.

The batteries will utilize sodium ions and are expected to operate similarly to lithium-ion batteries, albeit at a lower voltage. The research also emphasizes student training in advanced battery technology.