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Northvolt develops sodium-ion battery, validated > 160 watt-hours/kg

November 25, 2023

Northvolt, a battery manufacturer, announced the development of a state-of-the-art sodium-ion battery, expanding its cell portfolio.

The cell has been validated for an energy density of over 160 watt-hours per kilogram at Northvolt Labs, the company’s R&D and industrialization campus in Västerås, Sweden.

They said the validated cell is safer, more cost-effective, and sustainable than conventional nickel, manganese and cobalt (NMC) or iron phosphate (LFP) chemistries. It is produced with abundant minerals such as iron and sodium. The cell is based on a hard carbon anode and a Prussian White-based cathode, and does not contain lithium, nickel, cobalt, or graphite. Northvolt aims to be the first to industrialize Prussian White-based batteries and introduce them to commercial markets.

Peter Carlsson, CEO and Co-Founder of Northvolt, stated: “The world has put high hopes on sodium-ion, and I’m very pleased to say that we’ve developed a technology that will enable its widespread deployment to accelerate the energy transition. It’s an important milestone for Northvolt’s market proposition, but battery technology like this is also crucial to reach global sustainability goals, by making electrification more cost-efficient, sustainable and accessible worldwide.”

The sodium-ion technology, developed in collaboration with research partner Altris, is expected to form the basis for Northvolt’s next-generation energy storage solutions. The technology’s low cost and safety at high temperatures make it particularly suitable for energy storage solutions in emerging markets including India, the Middle East, and Africa.

Furthermore, the technology can be produced with locally sourced materials, offering a unique opportunity for developing new regional battery manufacturing capacity entirely independent of traditional battery value chains.

Northvolt’s first generation of sodium-ion cell is primarily designed for energy storage, with future generations expected to deliver higher energy density and enable cost-efficient electric mobility solutions. This new cell complements Northvolt’s product portfolio, which includes premium lithium-ion battery cells for automotive customers, and energy-dense lithium-metal battery technology under development for aviation and high-performance vehicles at Cuberg, a Northvolt company based in San Leandro, USA.

Peter Carlsson added: “Our sodium-ion technology delivers the performance required to enable energy storage with longer duration than alternative battery chemistries, at a lower cost, thereby opening new pathways to deploying renewable power generation. The potential of sodium-ion in this market alone will make a tremendous impact in the drive towards global electrification.”