New partnership advances sodium-ion manufacturing in Spain

Sodium-ion battery technology has never been more relevant. With lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cell prices on the rise and manufacturing heavyweights such as CATL and Envision launching dedicated energy storage products, sodium-ion is well positioned to move into the next stage of commercialisation. What is more, earlier this week, battery manufacturing giant CATL secured what is described as the world’s largest sodium-ion battery order with Chinese system integrator HyperStrong, with a total volume of 60 GWh.

Meanwhile, the list of European sodium-ion battery hopefuls is growing, as the EU increasingly recognises the nearshoring opportunity offered by this technology.

One of the notable start-ups in this space is Spain’s Bihar Batteries, which has already produced sodium-ion cell prototypes that have shown “very promising results”. Beyond sourcing sodium from salt, Bihar Batteries aims to use local raw materials such as wood to produce hard carbon, widely recognized as one of the most promising anode materials for sodium-ion batteries. The company’s stated goal is to create “a local industry around sodium batteries”.

Bihar announced its first prototype late last year, developed in collaboration with CIC energiGUNE, an internationally renowned energy storage research centre with more than 13 years of experience in sodium-ion research. The company’s plans to begin commercialisation this year took a major step forward on Wednesday with the announcement of a collaboration with San Sebastián–based NX Technologies, which specialises in power electronics for electric mobility.

NX will contribute its automotive-grade battery management system (BMS), which incorporates advanced sensors to enhance safety, including pyrotechnic fuses for faster response to electrical faults. The company also claims to have developed the first European BMS capable of monitoring up to 18 cells in series, reducing system costs by around 30% compared with other commercial solutions. Its chemistry-agnostic design enables compatibility with multiple cell types, including sodium-ion, positioning it as a good fit for emerging battery storage chemistries.

As an initial milestone, NX’s BMS has already been integrated into Bihar Batteries’ prototypes, and the partnership is now set to extend into the next phase of commercialisation.

Bihar aims to begin product sales by the end of 2026. It also plans to launch its first pilot production plant with support from the Basque Government, the Gipuzkoa Provincial Council, and Spain’s PERTE renewable energy programme. Its pilot facility is among 34 projects selected under the RENOVAL programme, which supports the manufacturing of essential equipment and components for renewable energy technologies in Spain, funded through REPowerEU.