Natron Energy launches sodium battery production in Michigan, marking the first large-scale U.S. deployment of this alternative energy storage tech
The California-based company Natron Energy has officially launched commercial-scale operations for its new sodium-ion (Na+) batteries. This marks the first time that this type of electrochemical energy storage has entered large-scale production in the United States. Industry enthusiasm has been high.
“We’re thrilled to announce the opening of the first sodium-ion battery factory in the U.S.,” said Colin Wessells, founder and co-CEO of Natron Energy. “These batteries offer a unique alternative to lithium-ion, with higher power, faster charging, longer cycle life, and a chemistry that’s completely safe and stable.”
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A new chapter for sodium batteries
Founded in 2012, Natron Energy was born out of CEO Wessells’ research on Prussian blue, a low-cost pigment that serves as an effective cathode material. This compound is particularly well-suited for sodium chemistry. Since the sodium ion is significantly larger than lithium, it requires a more open electrode structure to move efficiently during charge and discharge cycles.
Prussian blue not only provides this openness, but it also exhibits a “zero-strain” property, meaning the electrode does not expand or contract during operation. Natron’s sodium batteries are built on a patented electrode chemistry based on this pigment.
According to the company, this technology enables faster ion transport and lower internal resistance than any other commercial battery. The result? Natron’s sodium-ion batteries charge up to 12 times faster than lithium-ion batteries and are designed to last over 50,000 cycles. However, their energy density is lower. The reported volumetric energy density is slightly above 50 Wh/l, while no data has been provided for gravimetric density.
Michigan factory will produce 600 MW annually
Natron celebrated the factory’s opening on April 29 in Holland, Michigan, with Mayor Nathan Bocks and ARPA-E Director Evelyn Wang in attendance. The facility itself is a converted lithium-ion battery plant that Natron upgraded with more than $40 million in investment. ARPA-E contributed $19.8 million through its SCALEUP program (Seeding Critical Advances for Leading Energy technologies with Untapped Potential).
At full capacity, the factory is expected to produce 600 megawatts of sodium-ion batteries per year and serve as a blueprint for Natron’s future gigafactories. Initial shipments will begin in June, focusing on IT clients.
“We expect our battery solutions to support the explosive growth of AI-driven data centers,” said Wendell Brooks, co-CEO of Natron Energy. “We’re proud to lead the way in deploying sodium-ion battery technology. With commercial production now underway in Michigan, we’re positioned to meet the growing demand for safe, efficient, and reliable energy storage systems.”
