Northvolt has designed a sodium-ion battery for use in energy storage systems. The cell underwent tests at Northvolt Labs in Västerås, Sweden, achieving best-in-class energy density exceeding 160 watt-hours per kilogram.
This battery is safer, cheaper, and more environmentally friendly than conventional batteries containing nickel, manganese, cobalt, or iron phosphate. It is produced from minerals such as iron and sodium, readily available in global markets. It relies on a hard carbon anode and a Prussian blue-based cathode, containing no lithium, nickel, cobalt, or graphite. Leveraging breakthroughs in battery design and production, Northvolt plans to industrialize Prussian blue-based batteries, introducing them to the market on a large scale.
Peter Carlsson, CEO and co-founder of Northvolt, comments: “The world has placed high hopes in sodium-ion batteries, and I am pleased to announce that we have developed technology that will accelerate the energy transition. This is an important milestone for Northvolt, but this battery technology is also crucial for achieving global sustainable development goals by making electrification more cost-effective, sustainable, and accessible worldwide.”
The sodium-ion technology, developed in collaboration with research partner Altris, will be the foundation for Northvolt’s next-generation energy storage solutions. Its low cost and safety at high temperatures make it particularly attractive for energy storage solutions in emerging markets, including India, the Middle East, and Africa.
Moreover, sodium-ion batteries can be manufactured from locally sourced materials, creating a unique opportunity to develop new regional production capabilities, completely independent of existing battery value chains.
“The introduction of sodium-ion technology is groundbreaking for our company and is especially important for the Northvolt factory in Gdańsk, which specializes in the production of battery energy storage systems,” adds Robert Chryc-Gawrychowski, President of the Polish Northvolt company.
The first generation of sodium-ion cells is primarily designed for use in energy storage systems. Subsequent generations will feature even higher energy density, enabling cost-effective implementations in markets related to electric mobility.