Neutronium Electron Lattice Cell

Neutronium electron lattice (NEL) cells are a high-end energy storage system originally developed in the early-2200s by Metatron's High-Energy Particle Research (HEPR) laboratories, capable of storing extreme amounts of energy and delivering sustained terawatts of power in a small form factor. They originated from significant advances in humanity's understanding of Precursor technology, specifically how to manipulate dineutronium on a small scale.

NEL cells store energy utilising an extremely dense cloud of free electrons. They are built from a nanoscale lattice of dineutronium, which serves to equalise the compressive forces inside the cell and allow the electrons within it to pack effectively. This lattice is then contained within a magnetic containment system, which keeps the electron cloud under immense pressure. The total weight of a hand-portable NEL cell is upwards of that of a 70-storey skyscraper, but the apparent weight and effective inertia is much lower due to the gravitational waveguide properties of the DNT lattice.

Production

Because NEL cell lattices are manufactured from dineutronium, their construction carries all the complexities of dineutronium manipulation. Only three production facilities currently exist for NEL cells in the solar system, all of which are operated by Metatron.

Regulation

The risk of containment failure posits the technology as one of the most dangerous and volatile energy storage systems, even more so than the singularity-based Qube reactor. NEL cells are prohibited from being used in Coalition member nations unless supported by a triple-redundant containment system fed from the cell's own power output. They are treated as a classified strategic asset by Raven and possession without authority is also strictly prohibited.