Sodium-ion batteries are a type of rechargeable battery that uses sodium ions as the charge carriers during the charge and discharge processes. The positive electrode is typically made of layered oxide materials while the negative electrode uses hard carbon materials which can intercalate sodium ions.
The key components of a sodium-ion battery cell are:
- Positive electrode (cathode) – Layered sodium metal oxide
- Negative electrode (anode) – Hard carbon or graphite
- Electrolyte – Organic electrolytes with sodium salts
- Separator – Microporous polyolefin
When the battery is charging, sodium ions are extracted from the cathode material and inserted into the carbon anode. During discharge, the sodium ions migrate back to the cathode, generating electricity.
Compared to the more common lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries offer some key advantages:
- Sustainability – Sodium is much more abundant than lithium as a resource, making sodium-ion batteries more sustainable and secure over the long term.
- Safety – Sodium does not form dendrites during charging like lithium, reducing fire and explosion risks. This makes sodium-ion safer, especially for large scale stationary storage.
- Cost – Raw materials for sodium-ion batteries are lower cost compared to lithium-ion on a per kWh basis. This makes them potentially more economical.
The key benefits of sodium-ion technology are sustainability, safety and cost – making them well suited for grid-scale energy storage and electric vehicle applications. With further development, sodium-ion batteries hold promise as an alternative to lithium-ion batteries.
Top 5 Sodium-ion Battery Manufacturers
Sodium-ion batteries are an emerging battery technology that offers several advantages over traditional lithium-ion batteries. There are a number of companies working to develop and manufacture sodium-ion batteries for electric vehicles, energy storage, and other applications. Here are 5 of the top sodium-ion battery manufacturers to watch:
CATL
CATL (Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited) is a Chinese battery manufacturer and one of the largest lithium-ion battery suppliers in the world. CATL is developing sodium-ion battery technology through its R&D center in Germany. The company aims to begin manufacturing sodium-ion batteries by 2023. CATL has partnered with various automakers to supply sodium-ion batteries once production scales up.
Faradion
Faradion is a UK-based company focused on sodium-ion cell technology. They have developed a high energy density sodium-ion battery which they claim can offer 30% more storage capacity compared to conventional lithium-ion batteries. Faradion has partnerships in place with manufacturers in India and Australia to produce their batteries.
HiNa Battery
HiNa Battery Technologies is a Chinese startup developing high performance sodium-ion batteries. They have a patented cathode material made from Prussian blue that enables increased power density and better cycle life. HiNa Battery is planning to expand quickly, targeting 25GWh capacity by 2025.
Natron Energy
Natron Energy is a California-based sodium-ion battery manufacturer. Their battery cells use a Prussian blue electrode design for high power and energy density. Natron has launched pilot production lines in the U.S. and signed supply deals with data center providers to use their batteries.
Tiamat
Tiamat is a French/Chinese joint venture focused on sodium-ion batteries for electric vehicles and stationary storage. Their technology uses layered oxide cathode and hard carbon anode materials to deliver high energy density and safety. Tiamat is currently working on a pilot production line in China.
CATL
CATL (Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited) is a Chinese battery manufacturer and technology company founded in 2011 and headquartered in Ningde, China. CATL has emerged as one of the leading companies developing sodium-ion battery technology.
CATL’s sodium-ion battery products are based on Prussian white cathode material. In 2021, CATL unveiled its first-generation sodium-ion batteries with energy densities up to 160Wh/kg. The company aims to achieve energy densities over 200Wh/kg in the future as the technology matures.
CATL is rapidly expanding its sodium-ion battery production capacity. The company is building a new $948 million sodium-ion battery plant in China’s Yibin which will have a capacity of 20GWh per year when completed.
CATL has also entered several partnerships related to sodium-ion batteries. In 2021, the company partnered with BASF on materials research for cathode active materials. More recently in 2022, CATL signed an agreement with Tesla to supply sodium-ion batteries for its electric vehicles in China.
Faradion
Faradion is a sodium-ion battery manufacturer headquartered in Sheffield, UK. The company was founded in 2011 based on research from the University of Sheffield on sodium-ion technology.
Faradion’s sodium-ion batteries use a sodium-based cathode and an anode made of antimony-carbon. The company has developed two main products optimized for transport and stationary storage applications. Their Faradion Na-Ion Transport battery delivers high energy density and ultra-fast charging capabilities. The Faradion Na-Ion Energy battery provides low cost, high temperature tolerance and high cycle life.
In terms of production capacity, Faradion operates a Na-ion Cell Pilot Plant in Sheffield with capacity to produce initial commercial volumes of up to 1MWh per annum. The company is also planning to build the UK’s first full scale Na-ion Gigafactory, which will have a capacity of 1GWh when fully operational.
On the partnerships front, Faradion recently announced plans to develop sodium-ion batteries for Iveco’s Nikola TRE trucks. The company is also working with Anes, a renewable energy company, to provide sodium-ion batteries for renewable energy storage projects.
HiNa Battery
HiNa Battery is a Chinese sodium-ion battery manufacturer headquartered in Changzhou, Jiangsu Province. It was founded in 2019. The company currently manufactures 18650 cylindrical sodium-ion battery cells, prismatic sodium-ion battery cells, and 12V sodium-ion battery packs.
HiNa Battery has production facilities capable of 200 MWh per year of battery cells and module production. The company plans to increase production capacity to 1 GWh by the end of 2023.
In August 2022, HiNa Battery announced a partnership with Vinfast and VinESS Energy to develop sodium-ion battery packs and battery management systems for VinFast’s electric vehicles. As part of the partnership, HiNa will provide battery packs featuring its sodium-ion cells combined with VinES battery management software and thermal systems.
Natron Energy
Natron Energy is an American sodium-ion battery manufacturer based in Santa Clara, California. The company was founded in 2012 by Dr. Colin Wessells and Dr. David Kummer.
Natron’s sodium-ion batteries use Prussian blue pigments for the cathode and a sodium metal anode. This unique chemistry provides several advantages over lithium-ion, including lower costs due to the widespread availability of sodium, no dendrite formation risks, and improved safety as the batteries operate at lower voltages.
The company has a pilot production line in Santa Clara, with plans to scale up to a megawatt-hour scale facility. Natron’s products include 12V batteries for data center UPS systems, 48V batteries for electric forklifts and other industrial vehicles, and large-format batteries for renewable energy storage.
In 2021, Natron signed a partnership with heavy equipment manufacturer Komatsu to develop and produce sodium-ion batteries for construction and mining equipment. The companies are working together at Natron’s new Customer Application Engineering Center to optimize batteries for Komatsu’s needs.
More recently in 2022, Natron entered an agreement with Eaton to co-develop sodium-ion batteries for commercial and industrial vehicles, like electric trucks, buses, yard trucks, and more. The partnership aims to bring Natron’s batteries to market for vehicle electrification.
Tiamat
Tiamat is a sodium-ion battery manufacturer headquartered in Tel Aviv, Israel. The company was founded in 2019 by CEO Amir Tirosh and CTO Assaf Efrat.
Tiamat has developed a unique cathode material and electrolyte system optimized for sodium-ion batteries. Their batteries offer high energy density, fast charging capabilities, extended cycle life, and improved safety compared to lithium-ion.
The company is currently operating a pilot production line and plans to scale up to a gigafactory for mass production. Tiamat aims to reach production capacity of 0.5 GWh by 2025.
In January 2022, Tiamat announced a partnership with an unnamed global automaker to develop sodium-ion batteries for electric vehicles. As part of the collaboration, Tiamat will supply prototype cells this year for product validation and testing.
Additionally, Tiamat recently closed a $25 million Series A funding round led by OurCrowd, Maniv Mobility and Persay Investments. The new capital will support continued R&D, pilot production, and preparations for the planned gigafactory.
Recent Developments
Sodium-ion batteries are poised for major growth and expansion in the coming years based on recent industry developments. Several key manufacturers have announced plans to scale up production to meet anticipated demand.
New Production Plans
- CATL, the world’s largest EV battery supplier, plans to start mass production of sodium-ion batteries in 2023. CATL is building new sodium-ion battery factories and production lines in China.
- Faradion plans to begin commercial production of sodium-ion batteries in 2024 at its new GigaFactory in Sheffield, UK. The plant will have an initial capacity of 1 GWh per year.
- Tiamat is expanding its sodium-ion battery pilot production to 200 MWh capacity in 2023 and plans full commercialization by 2025.
Partnerships
- CATL and BASF formed a strategic partnership in 2021 to develop high-performance cathode materials for sodium-ion batteries.
- Faradion partnered with Indian energy company IPL in 2021 to set up a sodium-ion battery gigafactory in India.
- Natron Energy partnered with battery manufacturer Clarios in 2021 to scale up production for industrial applications.
Market Growth
- According to Allied Market Research, the global sodium-ion battery market is projected to grow at a 58.5% CAGR from 2022 to 2031.
- MarketsandMarkets estimates the market will reach $3.6 billion by 2030, driven by demand from renewable energy storage and electric vehicles.
- Guidehouse Insights forecasts that annual sodium-ion battery installations will exceed 2,000 MWh in 2030, driven by the automotive sector.
- Demand is expected to surge as sodium-ion batteries become more cost-competitive with lithium-ion alternatives. Lower material costs and increased scale will drive down sodium-ion battery prices.
Growth Drivers
- Sustainability benefits – Sodium-ion batteries utilize abundant and widespread natural resources like sodium and water, making them more sustainable than lithium-ion batteries which rely on limited lithium reserves. As the world moves towards renewable energy, sodium-ion batteries provide a greener and more responsible battery chemistry.
- Lower costs – Sodium is much more abundant and cheaper to source than lithium. This gives sodium-ion batteries significant cost advantages in materials and manufacturing compared to lithium-ion. Sodium-ion batteries are estimated to be 20-30% cheaper than lithium-ion batteries. As production scales up, these cost benefits will drive adoption.
- Demand for energy storage – With the growth in renewable energy and need for grid-scale storage, sodium-ion batteries present an attractive new storage solution. Their safety, sustainability and cost profile makes them well-suited for large scale stationary storage deployments. Growing demand for energy storage will fuel growth in sodium-ion batteries.
Conclusion
Sodium-ion batteries are an emerging battery technology that offers several advantages over mainstream lithium-ion batteries, particularly in sustainability, safety, and cost. As the world transitions to renewable energy and electric transportation, innovative battery solutions like sodium-ion will be critical.
The top sodium-ion battery manufacturers profiled here – CATL, Faradion, HiNa Battery, Natron Energy, and Tiamat – are leading the way in developing and commercializing this important technology. Recent partnerships and production plans show that major progress is being made to scale up sodium-ion batteries for real-world deployment.
Several key factors are driving strong growth potential for sodium-ion batteries, including regulations, climate goals, and cost competitiveness. With continued advancements, sodium-ion batteries are poised to play an integral role in the future of energy storage and electric vehicles. Widespread adoption could accelerate the global transition to clean energy and transportation.
In summary, sodium-ion battery technology brings critical advantages that make it a promising, potentially transformative energy storage solution. The leading manufacturers profiled here will shape the future development and commercialization of sodium-ion batteries. Major growth opportunities exist in this emerging market as the world moves to adopt more sustainable energy solutions. The outlook is bright for sodium-ion batteries to make a real impact as a next-generation battery technology.