The sodium-ion project is set to double its capacity to 100MW/200MWh, making it one of the largest sodium-ion projects in the world. It consists of 42 BESS containers with sodium-ion batteries, 21 power conversion system units, and a booster station. The project is being developed and operated by Datang Hubei Energy Development and is part of a national effort to build large-scale storage projects using non-lithium technologies.
Sodium-ion technology has great potential to commercialize at scale and alleviate supply chain issues related to lithium-ion batteries. While sodium-ion batteries have a lower energy density and potentially higher cost than lithium-ion, it is projected to be cheaper by 2025. Commercialization of sodium-ion technology has been slower than anticipated, but it offers advantages such as better round-trip efficiency and cycle lifetime at extreme temperatures.
China is heavily investing in sodium-ion technology out of concerns of being excluded from the lithium supply chain in the long term. As China dominates the lithium supply chain currently, it has limited reserves for mining lithium but abundant reserves for sodium-ion battery minerals. The general manager of HiNa Battery predicts that a terawatt-hour sodium-ion battery industry will emerge by 2030.
In conclusion, the sodium-ion project is a significant step towards developing large-scale storage solutions using non-lithium technologies. While sodium-ion batteries offer various advantages, there are still challenges to overcome before widespread commercialization can be achieved. China’s investment in sodium-ion technology reflects its strategic approach to securing a stable supply chain for battery materials in the future.