LiNa Energy opens sodium battery pilot manufacturing line in UK

Sodium ion battery start-up LiNa Energy has commissioned a pilot manufacturing plant in Lancaster, England, backed by GBP 20 million ($27 million) of funding.

The UK start-up, which was founded as a spin-out of Lancaster University, uses sodium-metal-chloride battery chemistry in its energy storage systems. A company spokesperson told ESS News that the business is building 10 kWh systems for trial projects but intends to produce 100 kWh systems on its next pilot line. The 740 m² pilot line has been commissioned at a site adjacent to LiNa’s laboratories. The company said tight integration of its R&D activities is central to its strategy.

LiNa told ESS News that the early focus for the business will be on serving customers “where sodium-metal-chloride provides biggest benefits on a levelized cost of storage basis, i.e. in harsh conditions where efficiency of our systems is maintained but lithium-ion systems can suffer.”

LiNa cells operate between 160 C and 300 C with a setpoint of 250 C – characteristics which make LiNa batteries a good fit for deployment in warmer climates, according to the company. A spokesperson said the batteries “are for daily cycling” and have a maximum C-rate – indicating how quickly a battery can be charged or discharged – of 0.2, meaning a five-hour discharge. LiNa also uses a proprietary ceramic electrolyte which the company claims will deliver high performance and safety “without relying on scarce or flammable components.”

When asked if there were opportunities domestically, LiNa said it expects to be able to compete on cost in the UK long-duration energy storage market in the future once the business has scaled.

Investors providing funding and support include Innovate UK’s Future Economy Investment Partnership, a government backed scheme. The pilot manufacturing line was opened at an official ceremony attended by Cat Smith MP, member of parliament for Lancaster and Wyre.

Will Tope, CEO of LiNa Energy, said the pilot line was the result of “years of disciplined engineering and a clear-eyed view of what the market truly needs.”