To address the burgeoning need for a long-life and economically viable stationary energy storage device, we have used a materials selection and design paradigm that has been focused on cost, manufacturability, performance, safety, and environmental impact from project inception.  The results of an exhaustive materials search has led us to focus on a novel class of high-performance electrochemical devices based on aqueous electrolytes used with electrodes composed of common and inexpensive materials.   Specifically, we have demonstrated a viable aqueous sodium-ion electrochemical energy storage device using a Na⁺ intercalation cathode, and high surface area carbon anode produced from an abundant and low cost materials stream. The electrolyte is benign sodium sulfate (which is fit for human consumption) and the cathode is one of several promising alkaline manganese oxide powder materials. In this talk, the synthesis/structure/properties of the various active and supporting materials systems used in this class of device will be discussed, and key relationships between materials qualities and device performance will be highlighted.  Further, an economic analysis comparing several energy storage devices currently competing for insertion into the stationary storage market will be offered, and the impacts of materials processing methods on device and system cost will be described.