At ESIE 2026, industry leaders CATL, Envision AESC, and Sungrow signaled the imminent commercialization of sodium-ion batteries for energy storage systems. CATL introduced a 300+Ah sodium-ion battery cell designed specifically for storage applications, delivering 97% energy efficiency and exceeding 15,000 cycles, with a planned market launch within the year.
Envision AESC announced that its 180+Ah sodium-ion storage cell, featuring over 20,000 cycles and an operational temperature range from -40°C to 70°C, has already entered production. Sungrow unveiled a new power conversion system (PCS) platform compatible with multiple battery chemistries and is jointly developing a sodium-ion storage platform with CATL and HiNa Battery, aiming to achieve system costs below RMB 0.5/Wh.
This rapid progress means B2B clients in commercial & industrial (C&I) storage and data centers can now evaluate sodium-ion batteries as a viable alternative to lithium-ion. Key advantages include superior low-temperature performance, enhanced safety (including new technologies to completely prevent thermal runaway), and emerging cost benefits. With lithium carbonate prices rising again, sodium-ion batteries are expected to achieve price parity by 2027-2028, offering a critical option for diversifying energy storage portfolios and reducing supply chain risks.
Source: OFweek Lithium Battery Network, April 14, 2026.
