Natron Energy
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Energy storage, Electronics |
| Founded | 2012 |
| Founder | Colin Wessells |
| Headquarters | , United States |
Key people | Colin Wessells (CEO) |
| Products | Sodium-ion batteries |
| Website | natron |
Natron Energy is an American company based in Santa Clara, California, specializing in the development and production of sodium-ion batteries for energy storage applications, such as data centers and industrial systems.[1] Founded in 2012, Natron was the first U.S. company to commercially produce sodium-ion batteries, beginning manufacturing in Holland, Michigan, in 2024.[1][2]
History
[edit]Natron Energy was founded in 2012 by Colin Wessells, then a Ph.D. student at Stanford University, to develop sodium-ion batteries as a cost-effective, sustainable alternative to lithium-ion batteries.[3] In 2020, Natron’s sodium-ion battery became the first to meet the **UL 1973** safety standard for energy storage systems, enabling commercial deployment in data centers.[4] The company began commercial production at its facility in Holland, Michigan, in May 2024, targeting applications in telecommunications, data centers, and industrial power systems.[2]
In August 2024, Natron announced plans for a $1.4 billion gigafactory in Edgecombe County, North Carolina, expected to create 1,000 jobs and produce 24 gigawatt-hours of sodium-ion batteries annually by 2028.[5][6] The project is supported by federal incentives under the Inflation Reduction Act.
Technology
[edit]Natron Energy’s sodium-ion batteries use Prussian blue electrodes, offering advantages over lithium-ion batteries, including lower cost, abundant raw materials, and enhanced safety.[3] The company’s BluePack Critical Power Battery is designed for rapid charging (full charge in 15 minutes) and durability (over 50,000 deep discharge cycles), making it suitable for high-power applications like data centers and microgrids.[7] Unlike lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries do not rely on scarce materials like cobalt or lithium, reducing supply chain risks.[2]
Funding
[edit]As of September 2024, Natron Energy has raised approximately $200 million in funding from investors, including Chevron Technology Ventures, United Airlines Ventures, and Aramco Ventures.[5][3] The company has also received grants from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) to support research and scale-up efforts.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Szondy, David (May 2, 2024). "Lithium-free sodium batteries exit the lab and enter US production". New Atlas. Retrieved May 9, 2025.
- ^ a b c Mughees, N. (June 24, 2024). "Natron Energy starts commercial-scale production of sodium-ion batteries". Charged EVs. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
- ^ a b c LeVine, Steve (February 3, 2025). "The Electric: Why This Next-Gen Battery Startup Isn't Afraid of DeepSeek". The Information. Retrieved May 9, 2025.
- ^ "UL 1973 Standard for Batteries for Use in Stationary and Motive Applications". TÜV SÜD. Retrieved May 9, 2025.
- ^ a b "Natron Energy Announces Plans for $1.4 Billion Giga-Scale Sodium-Ion Battery Manufacturing Facility in North Carolina". Business Wire. August 15, 2024. Retrieved May 9, 2025.
- ^ Samora, Sara (August 27, 2024). "Natron Energy to build $1.4B sodium-ion battery plant in North Carolina". Utility Dive. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
- ^ Murray, Cameron (April 30, 2024). "Natron Energy starts manufacturing '50,000+ cycle-life' sodium-ion batteries at Michigan factory". Energy-Storage.News. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
- ^ "Natron Energy - SCALEUP 2019". ARPA-E, U.S. Department of Energy. Retrieved May 9, 2025.