Sodium-Ion Batteries: A solution to reduce the reliance on critical raw materials?

To discuss the central questions, if SIB could be a solution to reduce the reliance on critical raw materials, we very much look forward to welcoming three guests on the virtual panel of our upcoming Battery Live Talk: Katja Kretschmer of InES - Institute of Energy and Process Systems Engineering (Energie- und Systemverfahrenstechnik), Dr. Florian Degen of Fraunhofer-Einrichtung Forschungsfertigung Batteriezelle FFB and Andreas Fischer of BASF.

Together with his guests, moderator Nikolas Oehl-Schalla from VDI/VDE-IT, will investigate the question why we are still not using SIB instead of lithium-ion batteries

What will be addressed?

•  Is Europe overly concentrated on accelerating LIB technology, potentially overlooking the next development trends?
•  There are various chemistries for sodium-ion batteries with different properties and maturity levels. Which one will prevail?
•  Is it feasible to recycle sodium-ion batteries?
•  In what domains can SIB technology serve as a viable substitute for LIB technology?

Announcements regarding Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) took center stage in the battery industry as the leading trend of the past year, captivating significant media attention and igniting substantial enthusiasm within the sector. The prominence of SIB technology has grown more apparent as research, production, and real-world applications have strengthened their foothold.

Leading Chinese battery manufacturers such as CATL and BYD have embarked on large-scale production and are poised to integrate sodium-ion batteries into electric vehicles. This has the potential to profoundly reshape the energy transition landscape. Despite initial skepticism regarding the suitability of SIBs for mobile applications, BYD, China's largest electric vehicle manufacturer, surprised the industry by introducing the first electric car powered by sodium-ion batteries, reportedly priced at less than €10,000.

CATL, in their announcement, indicated that their first-generation sodium-ion battery cells could achieve up to 160 Wh/kg. The striking similarity in plant technology to conventional lithium-ion battery production implies that a broad industry transition to this new technology is feasible, with changes primarily centered around raw materials and production parameters.