No lithium, cobalt, copper or nickel and non-flammable: This is the promise of sodium-ion batteries, which, based on the element contained in salt, are increasingly establishing themselves as an alternative to lithium-ion batteries. Natron Energy, a global leader in sodium-ion battery technology, today announced the start of commercial production at its battery factory in Holland, Michigan.
This marks the first commercial manufacturing of sodium-ion batteries in the United States. These batteries offer higher power density, more charge cycles, domestic supply chain and unique safety features compared to other technologies. They are the only UL listed sodium-ion batteries on the market. Mayor Nathan Bocks, Director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), Evelyn Wang, and company bosses Colin Wessells and Wendell Brooks spoke at the opening ceremony in Holland.
Sodium ions as an alternative to lithium ions
“Sodium-ion batteries offer a unique alternative to lithium-ion, with higher performance, faster charging, longer life and completely safe and stable chemistry,” said founder and co-CEO Colin Wessells. “At Natron, we are proud to be able to offer such a battery without the use of conflict minerals or materials with questionable environmental impacts.” Natron Energy was founded in 2012 by former Stanford student Wessells in a garage in Palo Alto in Silicon Valley. Investors include Chevron, ABB, United Airlines and Koshla Ventures.
Co-CEO Wendell Brooks emphasized the importance of the new facility to Natron’s growth and leadership in the next battery revolution. Natron has invested over $40 million to retool the $300 million facility and convert existing lithium-ion battery lines to produce sodium-ion batteries. ARPA-E contributed $19.8 million through the SCALEUP program.
Focus on data centers and industrial applications
At full capacity, the factory in Holland is expected to produce 600 megawatts of sodium-ion batteries annually. The initial focus is on data centers to meet the energy storage needs and 24/7 power supply for the explosive growth of artificial intelligence. In addition, Natron wants to change the way companies in a wide range of end markets use industrial electricity.
Natron’s patented Prussian Blue electrodes store and transfer sodium ions faster, more frequently and with lower internal resistance than any other commercial battery. The supply chain does not contain lithium, cobalt, nickel or other hard-to-source minerals. ARPA-E provided Natron’s first source of funding in 2012, followed by additional funding in 2020 and investments from strategic customers such as Chevron and Nabors Industries.