According to a report by ETNews, South Korean battery company LG Energy Solution (LGES) is moving forward with construction of a pilot production line for sodium-ion batteries in China. The facility, which is being built in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, will test the technologyʼs industrial feasibility. This will allow the company to test processes and supply chains under production conditions before deciding on mass production.
Validation under near-series conditions
The report states that LGES is planning a multi-stage procedure. Initially, research and development for the next generation of batteries will take place at the technology research institute in Daejeon. Then, an initial prototype will be manufactured at the main plant in Ochang. Building on this, the plan is to produce advanced B-sample and near-series C-sample in Nanjing. The pilot line in China will primarily serve to validate industrial processes under near-series conditions.
Completion by the end of 2026
According to the report, Chinaʼs role as a leading market for sodium-ion batteries is a possible reason for the location. The country has a well-developed supply chain, including for cathode materials. According to ETNews, LGES plans to finish building the pilot line by the end of 2026 and start producing samples. Meanwhile, the company itself claims it is “evaluating various options.”
Renaissance of the sodium battery?
In China, interest in sodium batteries increased in 2021 after CATL introduced their first generation. At that time, high lithium prices encouraged the search for alternatives. However, the technology lost attention with the subsequent fall in prices. Recent statements by CATL regarding the widespread use of sodium batteries starting in 2026, amid rising lithium carbonate prices, have reignited the discussion.
