From Lithium to Sodium: Opportunities and Challenges in Terms of Cost, Safety, and Sustainability

premium account

Recording of Monday, June 22, 2026 | The smarter E Europe Conferences 2026 | Language: English | Duration: 10:27 .

Emerging Sodium Ion Technology and Its Applications in Energy Storage

Sodium ion technology is gaining recognition as a viable alternative to lithium-ion batteries due to its cost-effectiveness, sustainability, and safety advantages. This technology leverages the abundance of sodium, offering a reduced risk in material supply chains. Production processes for sodium ion batteries closely resemble those of lithium-ion batteries, allowing for smoother integration into existing systems. Sodium ion batteries display enhanced thermal stability, making them safe and reliable for various applications. Although they are ideal for stationary energy storage, with initiatives highlighting their potential in reducing reliance on critical raw materials like cobalt, sodium ion batteries still face limitations. Key drawbacks include shorter cycle life and lower energy density, making them less suited for demanding mobile applications. Successful adaptation of sodium ion technology requires careful design adjustments, particularly in battery management systems and packaging for integration into current platforms. As research continues, identifying appropriate use cases for sodium ion technology is crucial for maximizing its benefits.

Automated summarization by AI Conver

Speaker

Andreas Pesl
Head of Energy Storage Systems
EDAG Engineering GmbH
Germany

The rapid expansion of utility-scale and commercial battery storage is pushing technological innovation beyond today's conventional lithium-ion solutions. New cell designs and new battery chemistries, such as sodium-ion, are entering the market while system designs are evolving with innovative power electronics, system architectures and control strategies. Together, these innovations help reduce cost, boost energy density and efficiency, and improve ROI across the globe through optimized operations and increased life spans. This session will present cutting-edge developments and discuss which technologies are most likely to shape the next generation of battery energy storage.

Further Talks of this session:

Speaker

Dr. Yao Wu
General Manager, Europe
Electroder
Germany

To Talk

Speaker

Urs Kalt
Product Manager
Munich Electrification
Germany

To Talk

Speaker

Melina Graner
Research Associate
Technische Universität München
Germany

To Talk

To Talk

You are using an outdated browser

The website cannot be viewed in this browser. Please open the website in an up-to-date browser such as Edge, Chrome, Firefox, or Safari.