How quickly can sodium-ion learn? Assessing scenarios for techno-economic competitiveness against lithium-ion batteries

TL;DR

This study models the future cost competitiveness of sodium-ion batteries against lithium-ion, considering technological, economic, and supply chain factors, and finds potential for early 2030s market entry if R&D progresses well.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive modeling framework that assesses sodium-ion battery competitiveness considering multiple scenarios and supply chain constraints.

Findings

Sodium-ion batteries could become cost-competitive with lithium-ion in the early 2030s.

Supply chain dynamics of critical minerals significantly influence timelines.

Increasing energy density in sodium-ion batteries is highly effective for competitiveness.

Abstract

Sodium-ion batteries have garnered significant attention as a potentially low-cost alternative to lithium-ion batteries, which have experienced supply shortages and pricing volatility of key minerals. Here we assess their techno-economic competitiveness against incumbent lithium-ion batteries using a modeling framework incorporating componential learning curves constrained by minerals prices and engineering design floors. We compare projected sodium-ion and lithium-ion price trends across over 6,000 scenarios while varying Na-ion technology development roadmaps, supply chain scenarios, market penetration, and learning rates. Assuming substantial progress can be made along technology roadmaps via targeted R&D, we identify many sodium-ion pathways that might reach cost-competitiveness with low-cost lithium-ion variants in the early 2030s. Additionally, we show timelines are highly sensitive to movements in critical minerals supply chains -- namely that of lithium, graphite, and nickel. Modeled outcomes suggest increasing sodium-ion energy densities to decrease materials intensity to be among the most impactful ways to improve competitiveness.