This is a partly automated translation of this german article by dpa.
Northvolt has developed a sodium-ion battery with an energy density of 160 Wh/kg. Initially, it is intended to help make the generation of renewable energy cheaper.
New sodium-ion cell from Northvolt
Northvolt AB
The Swedish company Northvolt has announced the construction of sodium-ion batteries. The cell developed together with research partner Altris has a peak energy density of more than 160 Wh/kg and is free of lithium, nickel, cobalt and graphite, the company announced. It is safer, more cost-effective and more sustainable than conventional batteries with nickel, manganese and cobalt (NMC) or iron phosphate (LFP), in which lithium is used.
The Northvolt development is reportedly based on an anode (positive pole) made of hard carbon and a cathode (negative pole) made of so-called Prussian white, an iron-based complex. Northvolt wants to be the first company to manufacture such batteries on an industrial scale and launch them on the market. The timing was left open. Chinese battery manufacturer CATL is also working on the technology and announced in spring that its sodium-ion batteries would be used in models from Chinese car manufacturer Chery.
Sodium is Significantly Cheaper than Lithium
A commercially available mass-produced lithium-ion battery cell, for example, achieves an energy density of around 280 to 300 Wh/kg according to earlier expert information. There are now also battery cells with much higher values. Sodium-ion batteries enable significant cost reductions with a lower energy density.
Sodium is available worldwide as a component of seawater and rock salt and is significantly cheaper than lithium. The low manufacturing costs and safety at high temperatures make the technology particularly attractive for emerging markets such as India, the Middle East and Africa, Northvolt emphasized. Later generations of its sodium-ion batteries would also offer opportunities for electric vehicles. "The world has high hopes for sodium-ion, and I am very pleased to say that we have developed a technology that makes its widespread use possible," said company CEO and founder Peter Carlsson.
(dpa)