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Will Sodium Batteries Replace Lithium Batteries in the Next 5 Years?

Updated: Dec 22, 2023



Sodium-ion Battery


In recent times, the predominant cause of fires in energy storage power stations has been traced back to the detonation of lithium batteries. Given the inherent risks associated with lithium batteries, one might question their continued use. However, the rationale is straightforward—when considering overall performance, lithium-ion batteries remain unparalleled among various battery technologies. Despite the continual emergence of new battery solutions, sodium batteries have begun to capture public attention, boasting significantly enhanced safety compared to their lithium counterparts.


During rigorous tests involving scenarios such as overcharge, discharge, short circuits, and punctures, sodium batteries demonstrate a remarkable ability to withstand these challenges without igniting or exploding. The primary appeal of sodium batteries lies not only in their safety features but also in their cost-effectiveness. Huang Xuejie, vice chairman of the China Battery Industry Association, highlighted in a recent CCTV "Dialogue" that the cost of sodium-ion batteries is notably lower. Substituting sodium for lithium in battery compositions can yield a substantial 30% reduction in costs. This 30% cost advantage holds considerable significance, as even a slight price differential can profoundly impact the fate of an industry.


What is the Design Direction of Soduim-ion battery?


The following video is very informative, presented by a CATL battery tech lead.




In July 2021, a press conference in CATL pushed the sodium-ion battery technolog from behind the scenes to the front of the stage. According to the plan of the CATL the sodium-ion battery industry chain will be built and industrialized in 2023. The increasingly popular concept of energy storage has made sodium-ion batteries instantly the brightest star sought after by the energy storage circle and the investment community.


Indeed, fundamental scientific exploration into sodium-ion batteries has been underway for an extended period. The inception of research on lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries dates back to 1979 when French scientist Armand introduced the concept of the "rocking chair battery." However, progress in sodium-ion battery research remained sluggish for many years. It wasn't until the year 2000 that a breakthrough occurred with the identification of hard carbon anode materials, marking a pivotal turning point for sodium-ion batteries.


The constant pursuit of reducing reliance on lithium resources and cultivating battery systems that are both cost-effective and high in safety has been the driving force propelling the extensive exploration of sodium batteries. Despite their inherent drawback of a larger ion radius leading to limitations in energy density, sodium batteries are poised to find a niche in applications such as backup power supplies, low-speed electric vehicles, and energy storage—essentially, scenarios currently dominated by lead-acid batteries. This positions sodium batteries as strong contenders to replace lead-acid batteries.

The question then arises: can sodium batteries potentially supplant lithium batteries? In this article, we will share our perspectives on this inquiry. However, before delving into the answer, it's essential to gain insights into the workings of sodium batteries.


To aid in this understanding, we present a table below that compares the distinctions between Solid Battery and Lithium Battery.


Pros and Cons between Lithium and Sodium Ion Battery


What is hindering Sodium-ion Battery Progress?


(1) Sodium ion batteries exhibit a low energy density, ranging only from 100 to 150 Wh/kg, in contrast to the 120-180 Wh/kg energy density of lithium batteries. This implies that, for batteries of equivalent size, sodium-ion batteries can store significantly less energy than their lithium counterparts. Simply put, the "battery life" performance of sodium batteries in applications such as new energy vehicles and energy storage power stations is inferior to that of lithium batteries, making it challenging to meet diverse daily energy demands. Overcoming this limitation is a crucial hurdle for the widespread adoption of sodium batteries.

(2) Sodium-ion batteries have a limited number of cycles, typically exceeding 2,000, while lithium batteries commonly exceed 3,000 cycles. The cycle count directly influences the battery's service life. In engineering applications, the prospect of a battery rapidly deteriorating is undesirable, making it challenging for sodium batteries to gain broad acceptance.

(3) The industrial chain for sodium-ion batteries is underdeveloped. The supplier system for components like positive and negative electrode materials and electrolytes has not yet achieved scale, leading to higher upstream prices and an inability to realize cost advantages. These three shortcomings significantly constrain the usage scenarios for sodium-ion batteries, particularly in the electric vehicle sector.


Is the Sodium-ion Battery Technology Fully Developed?


Sodium-ion batteries, akin to lithium batteries, comprise a positive electrode, a negative electrode, an electrolyte, and a separator. Unlike lithium ions, sodium ions are larger and demand greater material structure stability and kinetic properties. This has posed challenges, making the commercialization of sodium-ion batteries challenging.


How do the manufacturing equipment for sodium batteries differ from those used for lithium batteries? The manufacturing equipment for both materials is nearly identical, with the only distinction lying in the raw materials used in battery production. The ternary materials in lithium batteries or lithium cobalt oxide (LCO) are produced using engineering electricity and solid-phase methods. In the cathode material production line, lithium carbonate, nickel oxide, benzene acid, or metal salt, along with lithium carbonate or lithium hydroxide, are the primary raw materials. In sodium batteries, the metal salt remains unchanged, substituting lithium carbonate or lithium hydroxide with sodium carbonate and sodium hydroxide. Despite this alteration, the overall synthesis process remains the same.

For positive electrode manufacturers, existing lithium battery positive electrode production equipment can be largely employed, requiring minor adjustments to specific production parameters and conditions. The equipment itself remains mostly unchanged, and variations in graphite are minimal. The electrolyte is also similar, with LiPF6 being replaced by NaPF6, resulting in little deviation from the overall lithium battery production line.


Will Sodium Batteries Replace Lithium Batteries?


No, the replacement of lithium batteries by sodium batteries is not anticipated in the near term. Industry consensus suggests that sodium-ion batteries and lithium-ion batteries are complementary rather than outright substitutes. Given the lower energy density of sodium-ion batteries, they find greater suitability in applications such as medium and low-speed electric vehicles and large-scale energy storage.


As the industry experiences increased investment, technological advancements, and gradual improvements in the industrial chain, cost-effective sodium-ion batteries are poised to emerge as a significant complement to lithium-ion batteries, particularly in the realm of fixed energy storage. This presents promising development prospects.


Battery requirements primarily revolve around higher capacity, faster charging speed, enhanced safety, and lower costs. While sodium-ion batteries may temporarily fall short in meeting higher capacity needs, they boast advantages in other dimensions. In the current stage, sodium-ion battery products are expected to be predominantly utilized in scenarios below 150 wh/kg, alleviating the limitations faced by energy storage batteries due to lithium resource shortages.


The absence of apparent bottlenecks in the large-scale production of sodium-ion batteries suggests that they will swiftly capture market share with their distinctive features in specific markets. Positioned as the most economical and high-safety energy storage batteries, sodium-ion batteries, upon large-scale production, are projected to offer lithium-ion battery performance at lead-acid battery prices.


The development of sodium-ion batteries constitutes a self-breakthrough process, ultimately leading to a showdown with lithium batteries. The competition for competitiveness and market share is inevitable. While CATL has provided a clear timetable, the industrialization of sodium-ion batteries necessitates overcoming challenges related to technical performance, the industrial chain, mass production, and cost.


The well-known inherent energy density limitations of sodium-ion batteries have spurred ongoing optimization efforts. Elevating the energy density from 160Wh/kg to 200Wh/kg stands as the research and development goal for the second generation of sodium-ion batteries at CATL.


What Is the Timeline for Industrializing Sodium Batteries?


In the realm of energy storage applications, the significance of enhancing cycle life cannot be understated. As per available information, the current cycle life of sodium-ion batteries stands at 5,000 cycles, a figure that, although notable, falls short of the 8,000-10,000 cycles achieved by commercial lithium iron phosphate batteries. To position sodium-ion batteries as the backbone of the energy storage sector, continued advancements in technical performance are imperative.


Industrial Chain:

Various enterprises' disclosed information indicates that the production of sodium-ion batteries can largely adhere to the mature and established lithium battery production equipment. There are no major deviations in key processes across each stage, facilitating the swift deployment of production capacity. However, concerning crucial raw materials like the positive electrode, negative electrode, diaphragm, electrolyte, and collector, the involvement of new sodium-based materials necessitates the development of novel materials and the establishment of a new industrial chain system.


Mass Production and Cost Reduction:

Establishing production lines, augmenting production capacity, and achieving consistent mass production represent the quintessential challenges inherent in any technology's industrialization journey, and the progression of sodium-ion batteries is only just commencing. The core advantage for sodium-ion batteries to reduce costs lies in low raw material prices. Until the industrial chain and production system are robust, the cost competitiveness of sodium batteries relative to lithium batteries remains elusive.


Conclusion


As of our exploration, it is evident that sodium battery technology has not yet reached a mature stage. Consequently, lithium batteries will continue to serve as the predominant energy storage solution globally. Conversely, lithium batteries possess numerous advantages and features that align perfectly with the current requirements of various devices. While we won't delve extensively into these advantages in this blog, if you are intrigued by our lithium battery offerings or are considering customization for your device or project, feel free to reach out to us. We are here to address your inquiries to the best of our ability and wish you a smooth and pleasant customization process.




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