Natron Energy has begun commercial-scale operations at its sodium-ion battery manufacturing facility in Holland, Michigan. Natron’s milestone marks the first commercial-scale production of sodium-ion batteries in the US.

These batteries offer higher power density, higher cycles, a domestic US supply chain, and unique safety characteristics over other battery technologies, and are the only UL-listed sodium-ion batteries on the market today.

Natron has invested more than $40 million to upgrade the $300-million facility and convert existing lithium-ion battery manufacturing lines to sodium-ion battery production. Contributing to this investment, ARPA-E provided $19.8 million through the Seeding Critical Advances for Leading Energy technologies with Untapped Potential (SCALEUP) program. (Earlier post.)

The Holland facility will accelerate Natron’s technology commercialization while supporting more than 100 local jobs by the end of 2025 and strengthening the region’s rapidly growing clean energy manufacturing sector.

At full capacity, the Holland facility is projected to produce 600 megawatts of sodium-ion batteries annually and will serve as a blueprint for future Natron giga-scale facilities. Natron will begin battery shipments in June with an initial focus on data center customers to address the energy storage needs and 24/7 power required to support the explosive growth of Artificial Intelligence. Beyond data centers, Natron aims to transform the way businesses use industrial power across a wide range of end markets, including industrial mobility, EV fast charging, and telecom, among others.

Natron’s patented Prussian blue electrodes store and transfer sodium-ions faster, more often, and with lower internal resistance than any other commercial battery on the market today, the company says. The battery chemistry presents zero strain during charging and discharge, 10x faster cycling than traditional lithium-ion batteries, and a more than 50,000-cycle life.

Natron’s supply chain requires zero lithium, cobalt, nickel, or other difficult-to-obtain minerals.

The company has received investments from strategic customers, including Chevron and Nabors Industries.