Climate (MENA) 
Egypt Edition 
UAE Edition 
Saudi Edition 
MENA <> India Corridor 
Logistics (MENA) 
Share
Read Full Issue 
Another breakthrough for batteries from Northvolt: Swedish electric battery maker Northvolt says it has developed a new sodium-ion battery, which should contribute to the expansion of cost-efficient and sustainable energy storage systems globally, according to a statement. Northvolt developed the new tech with its research partner Altris, as it intends to offer attractive energy storage solutions in upcoming markets including the Middle East, India, and Africa.
About the new battery: The new cells of the sodium-ion battery offer a relatively high energy density of over 60 watt-hours per kg. It's also less costly and more sustainable than conventional battery minerals like nickel, manganese, cobalt, or iron phosphate.
What makes it so special? The cells are produced with minerals like iron and sodium, which are abundant in global markets. The new tech is avoid of conventional battery minerals like lithium, nickel, cobalt, and graphite. It can be produced with locally sourced materials, offering new regional capacity for battery manufacturing independent from traditional battery value chains. Northvolt also plans to be the first to industrialize and commercialize the sodium-ion batteries.
Looking forward: The first generation of sodium-ion cells is designed primarily for energy storage, with plans for subsequent models delivering higher energy density designs for cost-efficient electric mobility solutions.
What they said: “Our sodium-ion technology delivers the performance required to enable energy storage with longer duration than alternative battery chemistries, at a lower cost, thereby opening new pathways to deploying renewable power generation,” Northvolt CEO and Co-Founder Peter Carlsson said.
REMEMBER- Northvolt has big plans underway: The battery maker raised USD 1.2 bn from international investors in August in preparation for expanding in Europe and North America. It's also planning to build a EUR 600 mn plant in Germany and partnered with Norwegian aluminum giant Norsk Hydro to build a recycling plant that turns used and defective EV batteries into mineral powder used in battery manufacturing.
