After so many years of rapid development of new energy, lithium-ion batteries have always occupied a dominant position in the field of energy storage. However, with the emergence of problems such as the shortage of lithium resources, rising costs, and environmental protection pressure, a new type of Battery technology - Sodium-ion battery - is gradually coming into people's view and is expected to become a new challenger to replace the throne of lithium batteries.
Sodium batteries, similar to lithium batteries, both rely on the intercalation and deintercalation of ions between the positive and negative electrodes to complete the charging and discharging process. The difference is that it uses sodium, which is very abundant in the Earth's crust, instead of lithium, which is scarce and whose price fluctuates greatly.
Compared with lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion battery energy storage is more accessible in terms of resources, so its development and production are not restricted by geographical locations, and it has stronger temperature adaptability. Especially in energy storage systems, particularly in medium and large-scale power energy storage scenarios, it shows great potential.
Although, at present, the energy density of sodium-ion batteries is slightly lower than that of lithium-ion batteries. However, in many energy storage applications, high energy density is not the only key factor. Cost, safety, cycle life and other factors are equally important. Here is a brief comparison of the two:
It is evident that in scenarios such as large-scale energy storage, grid peak shaving, power peak shaving and valley filling, and industrial and commercial energy storage, sodium-ion battery energy storage, with its low cost and high safety, is gradually narrowing the gap with lithium batteries. This is also an advantage that makes large-scale energy storage more likely to choose it.
Sodium ions are widely present in seawater and ores, and the global reserves are extremely abundant, avoiding the "bottleneck" problems in the production of various countries caused by metal resources such as lithium and cobalt.
The materials used in the production of sodium batteries, such as hard carbon anodes and Prusside blue cathodes, are relatively inexpensive, and their production processes are compatible with those of lithium batteries. Existing production lines can be retrofitted, which can significantly lower the manufacturing threshold.
In the application scenarios of energy storage, it often appears in coastal areas, extremely cold or high-temperature environments. Under such environmental conditions, sodium-ion batteries perform more stably and are particularly suitable for energy storage needs in deserts, plateaus, and severely cold northern regions.
Through material optimization and electrolyte improvement, the cycle life of sodium batteries can now reach over 3,000 times, and they are safer than lithium batteries and less prone to thermal runaway.
The current main application directions of sodium-ion battery energy storage are concentrated in the following categories:
Industrial and commercial energy storage systems (C&I) : Helping enterprises peak shaving and valley filling, and reducing electricity costs;
Grid-side energy storage stations: used for frequency regulation, peak shaving and enhancing grid stability;
Distributed/community energy storage: Combined with photovoltaic power generation systems to achieve self-generation and self-consumption;
Microgrids and off-grid power stations: Suitable for remote areas, islands, communication base stations and other scenarios.
In addition, in the future fields such as electric two-wheelers, small commuter vehicles, and backup power supplies, sodium-ion batteries are also expected to open up new growth points.
Since 2023, enterprises including CATL, Zhongke Innovation Energy, Envision AESC, and SVOLT Energy Technology have successively launched sodium-ion battery products, laying out their strategies in the energy storage market. Some manufacturers have already put GWH-level sodium battery production lines into operation and even applied them in actual projects.
According to multiple institutions' predictions, the global shipment volume of sodium batteries is expected to reach 30 GWh in 2025 and exceed 150 GWh in 2030, accounting for a significant share of energy storage batteries. Sodium-ion battery + liquid cooling system + standardized integration will become the new trend of future industrial and commercial energy storage systems.
Sodium-ion batteries, as an emerging technology, have not yet completely replaced lithium batteries. However, they have become a very powerful competitor in the energy storage field due to their low cost, high safety, and strong availability of raw materials.
The future energy market will not be a "life-and-death" confrontation, but more likely to be the coordinated development of multiple technologies. Sodium-ion batteries are not the end of lithium batteries, but they are undoubtedly an important force in promoting the affordable and green development of energy storage.
Under the major trend of energy transition, can sodium-battery energy storage truly challenge the "throne" of lithium batteries? Perhaps time will tell, but now, this showdown between the old and new Kings has already begun.
