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Sodium-ion batteries, which use abundant materials such as sodium found in ordinary table salt instead of scarce lithium and other critical minerals, are emerging as a promising alternative for large-scale energy storage, The Wall Street Journal reports.
U.S. startups such as Peak Energy and Inlyte Energy, along with General Motors, are working to scale domestic production in an effort to reduce dependence on China, which currently dominates battery manufacturing and the supply of many critical battery materials.
Compared with conventional lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries are expected to be cheaper, longer-lasting, safer and more reliable for stationary applications because they are less prone to thermal runaway and require less complex cooling systems. These advantages make them well suited for power grids, data centers, renewable energy storage and backup power, where weight is less important than cost, safety and reliability.
Peak Energy plans to begin large-scale battery pack production in California in 2027, while Inlyte is preparing to deploy its first battery system for utility-scale energy storage. Although sodium-ion batteries are unlikely to replace lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles because they store less energy by weight, a Morgan Stanley report projects they could account for more than one-third of global battery production within the next decade.
However, China already produces most sodium-ion batteries and companies such as BYD and CATL are rapidly expanding production. Industry leaders warn that without greater investment and policy support, the U.S. could once again develop an important technology but lose the race to manufacture it at scale.
