Europe Pivots to Sodium-Ion Batteries, Launching Gigafactories to Secure Energy Future and Reduce Reliance on Chinese Lithium

September 13, 2026

Dialogue Earth Europe

Overview

Europe is aggressively pursuing sodium-ion (Na-ion) battery adoption to accelerate its renewable energy transition and reduce strategic dependence on Chinese-produced lithium. France’s Tiamat plans Europe’s first Na-ion gigafactory by mid-2027, aiming for 5 GWh by 2030, while global players like CATL (unveiling its TENER system) and HiNa Battery (deploying in Germany) are rapidly commercializing the technology. Na-ion batteries offer an extended cycle life, utilize abundant materials, and boast a lower carbon footprint, positioning them as a critical alternative for energy security.

In Depth

Background

The global battery market is experiencing unprecedented growth driven by the rapid proliferation of EVs and the surging demand for grid-scale energy storage. However, supply instability and price volatility of key raw materials like lithium, cobalt, and nickel, coupled with geopolitical risks, pose significant challenges to the industry. Europe, in particular, is striving to establish autonomy in battery technology to meet its clean energy targets. Na-ion batteries are positioned as a cost-effective solution with a more secure supply chain to address these issues. Offering comparable performance to lithium-ion, combined with excellent low-temperature capabilities, high thermal stability, and lower cost, Na-ion batteries are seen as a strategic technology to accelerate the energy transition.

Key Findings

Europe is aggressively pushing for the adoption of sodium-ion (Na-ion) batteries to accelerate its transition to renewable energy and strategically reduce dependence on Chinese-produced lithium-ion batteries. Leading this charge, France’s Tiamat aims to open Europe’s first Na-ion gigafactory in Amiens by mid-2027, targeting an ambitious production capacity of 5 GWh by 2030. This strategic move represents a significant step towards achieving Europe’s energy security and sustainability goals.

Technology & Market Details

Sodium-ion batteries utilize abundant sodium as their primary raw material, significantly mitigating supply chain risks compared to lithium. These batteries offer an extended cycle life of 15,000 charge cycles, surpassing conventional lithium-ion batteries (typically 12,000 cycles), indicating superior durability. The hard carbon used as a raw material also contributes to a lower carbon footprint during manufacturing. Globally, major battery manufacturers are also accelerating the commercialization of Na-ion technology. China’s CATL unveiled its ‘TENER Sodium Energy Storage System’ at an exhibition in Munich, showcasing its technological prowess. South Korea’s HiNa Battery has substantially expanded its domestic partnership from 15 MWh to 10 GWh and is actively testing and deploying in international markets, having delivered a 1.1 MWh Na-ion battery cluster to a German energy company in July 2025. HiNa’s HE240 cells have completed two years of production validation on GWh-scale lines, with batch shipments of NE170 cells also commencing. The U.S. market is also witnessing significant commercialization, with reports of mass production, supply contracts, and deployment in energy storage and mobility applications.

Strategic Significance & Outlook

The establishment of Na-ion gigafactories in Europe and the commercialization efforts by leading manufacturers are set to bring significant transformation to the global energy storage industry. The widespread adoption of this technology will enable the construction of a more decentralized and stable energy infrastructure, independent of lithium resources. The supply of low-cost, high-performance batteries will further accelerate the deployment of renewable energy and contribute to grid stabilization. With CATL slated to begin mass production of 175 Wh/kg Na-ion batteries in 2026, potentially offering a 30% lower price than LFP batteries and a 600 km EV range, the impact on the mobility sector is also keenly awaited. Sodium-ion batteries are expected to continue their evolution and market expansion as a crucial pillar for achieving a decarbonized society.

Source: https://dialogue.earth/en/energy/sodium-batteries-are-coming-to-europe/

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