Edgecombe County, NC facility to produce 24 GW
of Natron’s revolutionary sodium-ion batteries annually,
representing a 40x scale-up of current production capacity
Natron to invest nearly $1.4 billion in the
facility, supported in part by a North Carolina Job Development
Investment Grant (JDIG), creating more than 1,000 high-quality
local jobs and growing the state’s economy by $3.4 billion over the
next 12 years
Partnership to meet the rapidly expanding
demand for critical power, industrial and grid energy storage
solutions
Natron’s high-performance sodium-ion batteries
outperform lithium-ion batteries in power density and recharging
speed, do not require lithium, cobalt, copper, or nickel, and are
non-flammable
Natron Energy, Inc. (“Natron” or “the Company”), a global leader
in sodium-ion battery technology, today announced plans to build
the first sodium-ion battery gigafactory in the United States. The
facility will be located in Edgecombe County, NC, and is expected
to produce 24GW of Natron’s revolutionary sodium-ion batteries
annually at full capacity. Natron’s sodium-ion batteries offer
higher power density, more cycles, a domestic U.S. supply chain,
and unique safety characteristics over other battery
technologies.
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Natron Energy manufactures sodium-ion
battery products based on a unique and patented Prussian blue
electrode chemistry for a wide variety of industrial power
applications ranging from critical backup power systems for AI data
centers to EV fast charging and system hybridization. (Photo:
Business Wire)
The nearly 1.2 million sq. ft. facility, located at the 437-acre
Kingsboro megasite, will represent a total investment of nearly
$1.4 billion from Natron Energy, facilitated in part by a Job
Development Investment Grant (JDIG) approved by the state’s
Economic Investment Committee earlier today. Today’s news was
announced by Governor Roy Cooper at an Edgecombe County event
attended by Natron executives, North Carolina Commerce Secretary
Machelle Baker Sanders, and a number of local officials.
“Today is a momentous day for Natron Energy. This flagship
manufacturing facility will dramatically accelerate our efforts to
deliver sodium-ion batteries to customers who are hungry for safe,
reliable, and environmentally responsible energy storage
solutions,” said Colin Wessells, Founder and co-CEO, Natron Energy.
“After evaluating over 70 sites across 9 states, we found that
North Carolina, with its leadership in the clean energy revolution,
would make the perfect home for this project. We are proud to
partner with the state on this ambitious project to deliver
high-quality jobs to the community while advancing the
electrification of our economy. We look forward to joining the
Edgecombe County business community.”
The Edgecombe County facility will enable a 40x scale-up of
Natron’s current production capacity, accelerating the company’s
technology commercialization while supporting over 1,000
high-quality, local clean energy jobs at full operating capacity.
Natron’s batteries are the only UL-listed sodium-ion batteries on
the market today, and will be delivered to a wide range of customer
end markets in the industrial power space, including data centers,
mobility, EV fast charging, microgrids, and telecom, among
others.
“North Carolina’s momentum in the clean energy economy reaches
epic proportions with today’s news,” said Governor Cooper. “Natron
Energy’s choice to build this large and unique battery factory in
our state will help the nation reduce greenhouse gas emissions
while creating good jobs in Rocky Mount, Nash and Edgecombe
counties, and many other places in eastern North Carolina.”
This project will be facilitated in part by a Job Development
Investment Grant (JDIG) approved by the state’s Economic Investment
Committee earlier today. Over the course of the 12-year term of
this grant, the project is estimated to grow the state’s economy by
$3.4 billion. The JDIG agreement authorizes the potential
reimbursement to the company of up to $21,747,000, spread over 12
years. Natron and the state also anticipate additional support
being provided for the project through the first use of the North
Carolina Megasite Readiness Program, a new state grant program open
to local governments and designed to provide funds to help prepare
or upgrade qualifying industrial sites to the competitive level
required in today’s economic development marketplace. Grants from
the Megasite Readiness Program are awarded to local governments and
must be approved by the state’s Economic Investment Committee, the
same body that approves JDIG awards. The state expects Edgecombe
County will apply for a $30 million grant from the fund.
“This facility advances Natron Energy’s position as the leader
of the next battery revolution,” said Wendell Brooks, co-CEO,
Natron Energy. “Once operational, the Edgecombe County facility
will accelerate Natron’s growth trajectory, allowing us to
capitalize on the growing demand for efficient, safe, and reliable
sodium-ion battery energy storage. We’re proud to be leading the
charge in the advancement of a domestic battery supply chain, and
we’re grateful for the partnership of local and state officials
here in North Carolina.”
Natron’s patented Prussian blue electrodes store and transfer
sodium-ions faster, and with lower internal resistance than any
other commercial battery on the market today. The Company’s battery
chemistry presents zero strain during charging and discharge, 10x
faster cycling than traditional lithium-ion batteries, and 50,000+
cycle life. Natron’s supply chain requires zero lithium, cobalt,
nickel, or other difficult-to-obtain minerals. Made from commodity
materials including aluminum, iron, manganese, and sodium
electrolyte, Natron’s cells, modules, and battery represent an
environmentally and socially responsible alternative to lead-acid
and lithium-ion batteries.
The North Carolina Department of Commerce coordinated the
state’s recruitment of Natron Energy, which also involved several
state, regional, and local organizations.
Natron would like to thank the following firms for their efforts
in making this a successful site selection process: Savills,
Boundary Stone Partners, Womble Bond Dickinson, DARCAS Inc., O’Neal
Inc., and Quest Site Solutions.
About Natron Energy
Natron Energy manufactures sodium-ion battery products based on
a unique and patented Prussian blue electrode chemistry for a wide
variety of industrial power applications ranging from critical
backup power systems for AI data centers to EV fast charging and
system hybridization. Natron’s mission is to transform critical
power, industrial and grid energy storage markets by providing
customers with batteries that offer higher power density, faster
recharge, and a significantly longer cycle life than incumbent
technologies. Natron’s safe, sustainable products are UL 1973
listed, are not susceptible to thermal runaway, and do not use
conflict minerals. Learn more about Natron and its sodium-ion
technology at Natron.energy.
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Natron Media Contact: Natron@icrinc.com