Lithium is the most common element in battery manufacturing, with China controlling the global lithium-ion battery supply chain (79% of all lithium-ion batteries). China also controls 61% of global lithium refining capacity used for battery storage and electric cars.
The next big supplier is Argentina, accounting for 21% of global deposits, giving it tremendous power in raw material mining and to influence the lithium supply chain, with 13 proposed projects and dozens more in the works.
Lithium-ion batteries are made of scarce and pricey elements such as cobalt and lithium. Lithium prices have increased by more than 700% since 2021 amid rising demand for batteries. Lithium-based batteries would likewise have difficulty meeting the increasing demand for power grid energy storage. Technology companies are looking for alternatives to replace traditional lithium-ion batteries.
Sodium-ion vs. Lithium-ion Battery Technology
Sodium-ion batteries are a promising alternative to lithium-ion batteries — currently the most widely used type of rechargeable battery. Both types of batteries use a liquid electrolyte to store and transfer electrical energy, but differ in the type of ions they use.
An examination of Lithium-ion (Li-ion) and sodium-ion (Na-ion) battery components reveals that the nature of the cathode material is the main difference between the two batteries. Because the preparation cost of the cathode from raw materials is the same for both types of battery technologies, the main cost reduction for sodium-ion batteries comes from raw materials.
Due to the multiple advantages of sodium-ion batteries, large players in the energy industry are investing in acquiring and developing this technology. For example, Faradion, a battery technology company in the UK and an innovator in Na-ion battery, was recently acquired by Reliance New Energy Solar, a subsidiary of Reliance Industries, for $135 million.
Challenges for Sodium-ion Battery
Despite the advantages, sodium ion battery manufacturing needs to overcome several challenges before it can be widely adopted as a replacement for lithium-ion batteries.
- Lack of a well-established supply chain for the materials used in the batteries.
- Since the technology is still in its infancy, very few companies operate in this segment, leading to higher cost of batteries.
- The technology to make sodium-ion batteries is still in the early stages of development.
- Sodium-ion based batteries have limitations of flexibility as they cannot be turned into various shapes like prismatic, cylindrical etc.
- These are less dense and have less storage capacity compared to lithium-based batteries.
- Existing sodium-ion batteries have a cycle life of 5,000 times, significantly lower than the cycle life of commercial lithium iron phosphate batteries, which is 8,000-10,000 times.
Can Sodium-based Batteries Replace Lithium-ion Batteries?
While there are many potential advantages to using sodium-ion batteries over lithium-ion batteries, there are also several challenges that need to be overcome before they can be widely adopted as a replacement.
If sodium-ion batteries are to become the backbone of the energy storage industry, they must continue to improve their technical performance. Researchers are working to improve the performance and stability of the batteries, as well as to reduce their cost, while companies are looking to establish a supply chain for the materials used in the batteries.
Author: Sanket Chipade
Additional Read:
Lithium-Ion Batteries Are Changing the Face of Power Backup
How The Us Wants To Charge Its Battery Supply Chain
FAQs
Sodium-ion based batteries have limitations of flexibility as they cannot be turned into various shapes like prismatic, cylindrical etc. These are less dense and have less storage capacity compared to lithium-based batteries.
Which is better lithium-ion battery or sodium ion battery? ›
(1) The energy density of sodium ion batteries is low.It is only 100-150Wh/kg, while the energy density of lithium energy is 120-180Wh/kg. This means that for batteries of the same size, sodium-ion batteries can store much less energy than lithium-ion batteries.
What is the problem with sodium-ion batteries? ›
One of the major disadvantages of sodium-ion batteries is their relatively low energy density – the amount of energy stored relative to the battery's volume. Lower energy density means bulkier and heavier batteries.
Is sodium more environmentally friendly than lithium? ›
"We came to the conclusion that sodium-ion batteries are much better than lithium-ion batteries in terms of impact on mineral resource scarcity, and equivalent in terms of climate impact.
How much is a sodium battery compared to a lithium battery? ›
The price of lithium is $80 thousand per ton. The price of sodium hydroxide is around $800 per ton. The reserves of sodium are also more global in comparison to lithium. For this reason, sodium-ion batteries can be up to 30 percent cheaper than lithium-ion batteries.
Why is sodium-ion better than lithium? ›
Sodium-ion batteries can potentially be safer than lithium-ion batteries because sodium is more abundant and less prone to certain types of thermal runaway reactions. Lithium-ion batteries, while safe under normal conditions, have been known to catch fire or explode if damaged or subjected to extreme conditions.
How soon will sodium-ion batteries be available? ›
CATL. Chinese battery manufacturer CATL announced in 2021 that it would bring a sodium-ion based battery to market by 2023. It uses Prussian blue analogue for the positive electrode and porous carbon for the negative electrode.
Is there a better battery technology than lithium? ›
LFP batteries are cheaper but less energy-dense than other lithium-ion technologies. Sodium-ion batteries are showing promise for delivering an even more cost-effective option, potentially offering cheaper EVs with a decent range.
What is the new alternative to lithium batteries? ›
Faradion's sodium-ion batteries are already being used by energy companies around the world to store renewable electricity. And they are just one alternative to our heavy and growing reliance on lithium, which was listed by the European Union as a "critical raw material" in 2020.
Can sodium be used instead of lithium? ›
That's a lump of lithium, BTW. Sodium batteries could become a viable alternative to lithium in some use cases. Sodium is significantly cheaper and easier to get at than lithium. There's room for both battery types, and using sodium could stabilize lithium prices.
Sodium ions are bulkier than lithium counterparts, so sodium ion cells have lower voltage as well as lower gravimetric and volumetric energy density. Sodium ion gravimetric energy density is currently around 130 Wh/kg to 160 Wh/kg, but is expected to top 200 Wh/kg in future, above the theoretical limit for LFP devices.
Who is the largest producer of sodium-ion batteries? ›
Sodium-ion Battery Top Companies
- Faradion Limited.
- AMTE Power PLC.
- NGK Insulators Ltd.
- HiNa Battery Technology Co. Ltd.
- TIAMAT SAS.
- Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited.
- Altris AB.
- Natron Energy Inc.
Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs), fast emerging as the next-generation battery cells, will be up to 24% cheaper than the most affordable lithium-based batteries by 2035, making SIBs an attractive option for budget electric vehicles, an industry study showed.
What is better than a sodium ion battery? ›
However, lithium-ion batteries currently offer higher energy density and longer cycle life compared to sodium-ion batteries, making them more suitable for many applications.
What new battery is better than lithium-ion? ›
Aqueous Metal Oxide Batteries
Using readily available, inherently non-flammable materials including manganese and other metal oxides, Alsym batteries offer high performance at lower cost and risk than Li-ion.
Do sodium-ion batteries charge faster than lithium-ion? ›
The max charge rate of lithium ion battery is 1C, and the max charge rate of sodium ion battery could reach 3C. 5. Cycle life. The cycle life of sodium ion battery is from 1000 times to 3000 times for now, and the cycle life of lithium iron phosphate battery is from 2500 times to 6000 times normally.
Can sodium-ion batteries be used in cars? ›
The lower energy density translates to a reduced driving range for EVs using sodium-ion batteries, making them less practical for long-distance travel without frequent recharging. This limits the applications for which sodium can currently be used across the automotive industry.
