Natron Energy, a pioneer in sodium-ion battery technology, has begun mass production of these batteries, promising to revolutionize energy storage.
For the past two years, Natron Energy, a leader in sodium-ion batteries, has been busy preparing for the mass production of specially formulated sodium-ion batteries. This American company has slightly delayed its planned launch from 2023 but will begin producing high-lifespan, fast-charging sodium batteries without lithium starting this month. This product is expected to introduce an attractive new alternative to the energy storage industry.
Sodium batteries have many advantages over lithium, such as being cheaper and easier to mine, but their weakness is low energy density that needs improvement. (Photo: Natron).
Sodium is not only 500 to 1,000 times more abundant than lithium on Earth, but its extraction also has a significantly lower environmental impact compared to lithium. Moreover, Natron states that their sodium-ion batteries are made entirely from abundant materials, including aluminum, iron, and manganese.
Sodium-ion technology has garnered increasing interest in recent years as it is considered a more reliable energy storage material that could be cheaper. Although its energy density does not yet match that of lithium-ion batteries, advantages such as faster charging cycles, longer lifespan, and safer, less flammable usage have made sodium-ion an appealing alternative, especially for fixed infrastructure like data centers and backup storage for electric vehicle charging stations.
Founded in 2013, Natron is one of the pioneering companies in this new wave of sodium-ion research and innovation. While most sodium-ion designs are still in the lab phase, Natron has started mass production on a large scale. The company has inaugurated its manufacturing facility in Holland, Michigan, marking it as the first commercial-scale sodium-ion battery production in the U.S.
Colin Wessells, founder and co-CEO of Natron, stated at the event: “Sodium-ion batteries offer a unique alternative to lithium-ion batteries, with higher capacity, faster charging, longer life cycles, and complete chemical safety and stability.” He also expressed pride that the company will provide a solution using safer materials for the environment.
Natron claims their batteries charge and discharge up to ten times faster than lithium-ion batteries, providing excellent backup storage capabilities. Furthermore, their estimated lifespan is up to 50,000 cycles.
Companies around the world are also racing to improve the energy density of this type of battery. CATL introduced a sodium-ion battery with a density of 160 Wh/kg in 2021 and plans to increase that density to over 200 Wh/kg to better meet the demands of electric vehicles.
