Russia, having lost access to cheap lithium from South American countries, is actively seeking alternative solutions for battery production. One of the most promising options is the transition to sodium batteries, writes "Svobodnaya Pressa". As the publication's experts note, sodium has an almost inexhaustible raw material base – it is a thousand times more common on the planet than lithium.
Sodium batteries have several advantages: they do not explode or burn, can withstand up to 5000 charge cycles, and work perfectly at low temperatures, which is especially important for the Russian climate. According to Sergey Kulikov, head of Rosnano, sodium-ion batteries are approximately 40–45% cheaper than lithium batteries with similar energy characteristics. Russia already has the first successful prototypes that operate at temperatures down to -40°C.
However, sodium batteries also have disadvantages. Their energy density is about half that of lithium batteries, making them larger and heavier. This limits their use in electric vehicles, but for stationary energy storage systems, utility, and industrial equipment, this is not critical.
Projects for the production of sodium-ion batteries are already being implemented in Russia. The St. Petersburg holding SNDGlobal, together with Chinese partners, launched a project for the production of sodium-ion batteries, focusing on the harsh climate of the northern regions. The company "Rubruks" has started pilot production of HVBS-360-50 sodium batteries. JSC "Rosnano" plans to start mass production of sodium-ion batteries for electric vehicles in 2026.
Sodium batteries are becoming increasingly attractive for energy systems and industry, especially in the context of import substitution and reducing dependence on expensive lithium, the extraction of which in Russia is many times more expensive. However, widespread use is currently limited by lower energy density and greater weight. For many tasks – from energy storage systems to special equipment – sodium batteries can become an optimal solution.