Podcast Summary: Catalyst with Shayle Kann
Episode: The Case for Sodium-Ion
Release Date: August 14, 2025

Introduction and Context

In this episode of Catalyst, hosted by Shayle Kann, the discussion pivots to the emerging potential of sodium-ion batteries as a viable alternative to traditional lithium-ion technologies. The guest, Landon Mossberg, CEO and co-founder of Peak Energy, provides an in-depth analysis of sodium-ion batteries, their current state, advantages, and challenges in the energy storage landscape.

Current State of Sodium-Ion Batteries

Shayle Khan initiates the discussion by revisiting a previous conversation about sodium-ion batteries with Adrian Yao from Stanford, highlighting the initial skepticism due to lower energy density compared to lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. Landon Mossberg offers a more optimistic perspective, emphasizing recent advancements and cost reductions in sodium-ion technology.

Notable Quote:

“[...] sodium ion has garnered a fair bit of attention as a potential future chemistry that sort of continues the trend we've seen historically within lithium ion from NMC to LFP, which is to say a chemistry with potentially lower capex, lower energy density, but some other characteristics that make it better for certain applications.”
— Shayle Khan [00:26:38]

Manufacturing and Supply Chain

A significant portion of sodium-ion battery manufacturing is concentrated in China, with capacities ranging between 30 to 100 gigawatt-hours (GWh). Mossberg notes that while major Korean battery companies like LG, SK, and Samsung are not dominant players in the sodium-ion sector, smaller companies are beginning to show interest. The supply chain for sodium-ion batteries closely mirrors that of lithium-ion, with similarities in manufacturing processes, except for the active materials.

Notable Quote:

“If you take the BOM for lithium ion, you take the BOM for sodium ion. With a few small caveats. They are exactly the same except for active material.”
— Landon Mossberg [00:17:58]

Cost Comparison: CapEx

At the cell level, sodium-ion batteries currently incur a premium compared to LFP, being approximately $15 to $30 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) more expensive. However, prices are projected to fall by about $20 per kWh over the next two to three years, potentially narrowing the cost gap. Despite the lower energy density, the cost of materials for sodium-ion cells remains low, which could offset the premium in specific applications.

Notable Quote:

“We have quotes from both from raw material suppliers and from cell suppliers that the price is falling by about $20 per kilowatt hour over the next 2ish years.”
— Landon Mossberg [00:07:59]

System-Level Benefits and Operational Expenditures (OPEX)

While sodium-ion cells have lower energy density, they offer substantial system-level advantages that can lead to cost savings. These include:

1. Passive Thermal Management: Sodium-ion systems like Peak Energy’s NFPP (sodium pyrophosphate) utilize passive cooling, eliminating the need for complex and expensive active cooling systems (fans, pumps, water cooling). This reduces both capital expenditures (CapEx) and operational expenditures (OPEX).

2. Enhanced Safety: Sodium-ion batteries possess a better safety profile, including lower self-heating and less explosive gas emissions compared to LFP, reducing the need for elaborate safety systems.

3. Reduced Maintenance: The absence of moving parts and simplified system design translate to lower maintenance requirements and enhanced reliability.

Notable Quote:

“We're the first completely passive thermal management system on the cooling side ever deployed anywhere in the world at grid scale. This means like no moving parts at all through the whole system.”
— Landon Mossberg [00:29:26]

Cycle Life and Reliability

Sodium-ion batteries demonstrate impressive cycle life, with Landon Mossberg citing tests showing up to 10,000 cycles while maintaining over 80% state of health (SoH). In comparison, LFP cells have shown approximately 2,600 cycles at 80% SoH under similar conditions. Additionally, sodium-ion batteries exhibit fewer degradation mechanisms, contributing to longer calendar life and reduced degradation over time.

Notable Quote:

“NFPP is almost 3,000 cycles, same cell, and we're at 94.5% and like I said, we have seen almost 10,000 cycles still trending way above 80% state of health on those things.”
— Landon Mossberg [00:38:19]

Geographical Manufacturing Strategies

Currently reliant on Chinese manufacturing, Peak Energy plans to establish cell manufacturing facilities in the United States to diversify and secure their supply chain. The company aims to leverage partnerships globally while setting up domestic production to meet growing demand and enhance supply chain resilience.

Notable Quote:

“We're definitely going to build cell manufacturing here in the States. We're also going to continue to work with partners all over the world.”
— Landon Mossberg [00:42:41]

Conclusion and Future Outlook

Landon Mossberg envisions a future where sodium-ion batteries become a mainstream option for stationary energy storage, particularly where their system-level benefits outweigh the current cell-level cost premium. With ongoing cost reductions, improved manufacturing capabilities, and the inherent advantages in safety and maintenance, sodium-ion technology holds promise for substantial adoption in the energy storage market.

Notable Quote:

“The nice thing about sodium ion is it lets you go ahead and get started at scale with a product that is really competitive out the gate in the right applications on today.”
— Landon Mossberg [00:45:34]

Key Takeaways

• Sodium-Ion vs. Lithium-Ion (LFP): While sodium-ion batteries currently have a higher cost per kWh, their system-level advantages in passive thermal management, safety, and reduced maintenance offer significant cost savings over the battery's lifecycle.

• Manufacturing and Supply Chain: Predominantly manufactured in China, there is a growing movement to establish sodium-ion production in the U.S., leveraging existing lithium-ion supply chains with modifications for active materials.

• Cost Trajectory: Projected reductions in sodium-ion battery costs are expected to bridge the current price gap with LFP within the next few years, enhancing their competitiveness.

• Cycle Life and Reliability: Sodium-ion batteries exhibit superior cycle life and reduced degradation, making them attractive for long-term stationary storage applications.

• Future Adoption: With continuous improvements and strategic manufacturing expansions, sodium-ion technology is poised to become a significant player in the energy storage market, complementing and potentially challenging existing lithium-ion solutions.

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