Representatives from research, universities, and industry have gathered at Congress Center Dresden for the 6th International Sodium Battery Symposium (SBS6). Organized by Fraunhofer IKTS, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, the symposium follows the idea that progress accelerates when players of the entire value chain from material science to large-scale applications meet to share results, needs, and roadmaps.
Growing but challenging area
The sodium-ion battery community remains compact but is rapidly expanding. Although technical challenges remain from cathode optimization to scaling up production, the use of sodium-ion batteries promises cost advantages, abundant raw materials, and suitability for stationary storage as well as select mobility applications. The variety of approaches to sodium electrochemistry includes high-temperature systems with decades of development and advancing solid-state battery concepts. The technology is said to open new possibilities for resilient and safe electricity storage.
Addressing geopolitical supply risks
At SBS6 in Dresden, Dr. Mihails Kusnezoff, Head of the Materials and Components department at Fraunhofer IKTS, outlined the institute’s motivation and strategy in advancing sodium battery technology. Accordning to Kusnezoff, sodium-ion battery systems represent an important step toward reducing Europe’s dependency on critical raw materials and addressing geopolitical supply risks linked to lithium. Sodium offers abundant availability, avoids the use of cobalt, and allows for manufacturing with similar processes and equipment to those used for lithium-ion cells, which is said to be a decisive advantage for industrial transition.
From lab to industry scale
Fraunhofer IKTS pursues research across several technology lines. The institute develops and tests sodium cells with liquid electrolytes, works closely with Forschungszentrum Jülich on solid-state battery systems using ceramic separators, and continues its long-standing development of high-temperature sodium batteries. Kusnezoff claims all those activities aim to strengthen Europe’s expertise, enable industrial scaling, and prepare the ground for future commercialization.
Topics ranging from materials to applications
Discussions and presentations at the conference addressed numerous aspects ranging from materials to applications. Volkswagen AG shared an automotive perspective on sodium-ion technology, TU Berlin presented research on new anode materials, and Fraunhofer IKTS discussed sodium-based battery concepts for stationary energy storage. A poster exhibition enabled participants to engage directly with specialists from universities, research centers, and industry. The event always underscored its dual focus: promoting and advancing research while supporting industrial implementation.
Europe’s strategic interest
Global lithium resources are heavily concentrated in Asia. According to Kusnezoff, Europe’s economic success will depend on three factors in the future: political and financial support for the establishment of European cell production, the early involvement of suppliers to build a solid knowledge base, and rapid research consensus on the most effective cell designs. “We should not try to predict the future,” Kusnezoff said. “Instead, we should try to shape it together.”
