Today, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), and five other departments jointly issued the '15th Five-Year Plan for the Development of the New Battery Industry'. The plan explicitly proposes building a new battery product supply system dominated by lithium-ion batteries, with sodium-ion batteries, flow batteries, and others developing synergistically. It also emphasizes fully leveraging the cost, safety, and resource security advantages of sodium-ion batteries, accelerating the R&D and application of key materials, and developing energy storage batteries with high safety, high economic efficiency, and long cycle life. As sodium-ion batteries are included in the '15th Five-Year Plan', the market side is also accelerating:
On the R&D and product front, BYD (002594), Farasis Energy (688567), EAST Group (300376), and others continue to increase their investment in technology routes and product iterations. Breakthroughs are constantly being achieved in patent layout, cycle life, low-temperature performance, and safety, with some products already entering mass production or small-batch applications;
On the capacity and equipment front, CBAK Energy, Jinhe Equipment (300619), NaMei Technology, and others are advancing the construction of GWh-level production lines, long-term plans for tens of GWhs, lithium-sodium shared production lines, and equipment expansion, accelerating the completion of the industrial chain's manufacturing capabilities;
On the project and order front, enterprises such as China Sodium Battery, Pylon Tech, NaMei Technology, and Sodium Energy Era have achieved successive breakthroughs in the delivery of 100MWh-level projects, batch shipment of battery cells, order growth, and overseas expansion in Europe.
As technology, capacity, and market resonate at the same frequency, sodium-ion battery energy storage has moved from single-point breakthroughs to full-chain competition. To clarify the supply chain context and competitive landscape, Expert Say Energy Storage will launch the '2026 Industry Reference Manual: Top 100 Supply Chain Database from Lithium-Ion to Sodium-Ion Battery Energy Storage' in October, sorting out key links and representative enterprises to provide reference coordinates from technology routes to supply patterns.
▍BYD: Has Established a Sodium-Ion Battery R&D Team of Over 100 Members
Since September, BYD has successively updated dozens of investor relations records, focusing on the progress of sodium-ion batteries: Regarding the mechanism research and technology R&D of sodium-ion batteries, the company has established a dedicated R&D team of over 100 members, with PhDs accounting for 50%. The company's forward-looking technology layout always puts technology creation first.
As of now, BYD's sodium-ion battery technology has applied for and laid out over 230 core patents globally, of which invention patents account for 95%, precisely covering core links such as high-energy-density cathode materials, electrolyte optimization, and battery system integration.
In the semi-annual report, BYD stated that the company has deployed the R&D and demonstration applications of new battery technologies such as sodium-ion energy storage, has promoted the commercial landing of 100MWh-level sodium-ion energy storage projects, and continues to accelerate the iteration and upgrade of a new generation of sodium-ion energy storage products to enhance medium- and long-term technological resilience with diversified technology reserves.
As He Long, Executive Vice President of BYD Group and CEO of FinDreams Battery, said, 'Sodium-ion batteries are a continuation of BYD's lithium iron phosphate battery strategy.' This strategic judgment is also being transformed into capacity layout. According to Expert Say Energy Storage's '2026 Industry Reference Manual: Top 100 Supply Chain Database from Lithium-Ion to Sodium-Ion Battery Energy Storage', BYD's current planned sodium-ion battery capacity totals about 60GWh.
▍Farasis Energy: Sodium-Ion Energy Storage Batteries Have Mass Production and Delivery Capabilities
As early as June, Farasis Energy officially announced a strategic partnership with the German new energy enterprise WLF Energy to jointly develop overseas sodium-ion energy storage products. On September 22, Farasis Energy further disclosed at an investor-related meeting that the company's sodium-ion batteries are advancing with a dual-technology route.
First, in the layered oxide system, the first-generation products have achieved industrialization. The second-generation products are steadily advancing in key technical performances such as energy density and cycle life, and are currently in the trial production stage;
Second, breakthroughs have been made in polyanionic system products. In terms of performance, they have the advantages of high intrinsic safety, ultra-long cycle life, high rate, and excellent low-temperature performance. They have broad application prospects and can be widely applied to energy storage and high-power application scenarios.
Farasis Energy also independently develops sodium-ion energy storage batteries. The related products have an ultra-long cycle life of over 25,000 cycles; they can discharge at a low temperature of -40°C with a retention rate of over 85%; at the same time, they have passed strict safety tests such as needle penetration, thermal runaway, and thermal propagation, and have now entered the industrialization stage with mass production and delivery capabilities. Focusing on the energy storage business, Farasis Energy expects that the domestic market's signed projects this year are expected to reach the GWh level.
▍EAST Group: Sodium-Ion Batteries Have Achieved Small-Batch Applications
'The company has completed a comprehensive layout in the field of sodium-ion batteries, and related projects have been successfully landed.' Compared with others, EAST Group's sodium-ion battery progress is a step ahead. According to multiple announcements disclosed by EAST Group in September, its sodium-ion batteries have achieved small-batch mass production applications, mainly landing in automotive starting power supplies and UPS backup power scenarios. Relying on the advantages of high safety and low-temperature performance, it serves as a technical supplementary route for lithium-ion batteries.
It is reported that as early as 2023, EAST Group established a specialized operation team for sodium-ion batteries and built a domestic first-class sodium-ion battery research and testing laboratory. The sodium-ion battery products mainly face three terminal markets: UPS uninterruptible power supplies, energy storage, and starting batteries. Among them, focusing on the energy storage direction, its 60kW/118kWh liquid-cooled energy storage integrated cabinet with sodium-ion batteries, with high performance and modular design, is effectively applied in scenarios with high safety requirements such as data centers, rail transit, and chemical parks. Benchmark sodium-ion battery energy storage projects have been successfully landed in Guangdong, Shanghai, and other places.
In terms of capacity, EAST Group's sodium-ion battery cell production line in Linze, Zhangye, Gansu, has been successfully rolled out. The company continues to deepen the R&D of sodium-ion cell processes, PACK integration, and system adaptation. Currently, it has formed a full-chain production capacity covering sodium-ion cells, battery PACK, and system integration. The sodium-ion battery sector has fully moved from demonstration verification to commercial delivery. Next, backup power supplies, specific energy storage, and other scenarios are expected to become the entry points for further volume growth of EAST Group's sodium-ion batteries; data centers, new energy storage, and green transportation will also be its subsequent expansion directions.
▍Jinhe Equipment: Plans to Raise CNY 490 Million to Increase Investment in Sodium-Ion Battery Expansion Projects
On September 27, Jinhe Equipment released the '2026 Plan for Issuing A-Shares to Specific Objects', planning to launch the issuance of shares to specific objects in 2026. The raised funds are planned to be invested in 2 expansion projects, 2 R&D and construction projects, and 1 working capital replenishment project, with a total planned raised amount not exceeding CNY 1.5 billion.
Among them, as the first expansion project this time, the industrialization project of high-end intelligent equipment for sodium-ion batteries, consumer lithium-ion batteries, solid-liquid batteries, and new energy storage batteries has the largest planned raised amount, which is CNY 490 million, and the total project investment reaches CNY 572 million.
Regarding the purpose of the fundraising, Jinhe Equipment specifically mentioned that the company's current equipment products are mainly front-end equipment for power and energy storage liquid lithium-ion batteries. After the implementation of the industrialization project of high-end intelligent equipment for sodium-ion batteries, consumer lithium-ion batteries, solid-liquid batteries, and new energy storage batteries, and the R&D and construction project of high-end intelligent equipment for dry electrodes and solid-state batteries, it will better adapt to downstream industry products and market demand, break through capacity constraints, expand business scale, improve profitability, and at the same time achieve full coverage of technology routes and application scenarios.
Data shows that Jinhe Equipment is a domestic dual leader in continuous slurry-making equipment for lithium-ion batteries and silicone equipment. Relevant industry insiders evaluate that the announcement of this fundraising project will promote Jinhe Equipment's transformation into an integrated platform for battery equipment + new materials covering multiple technology routes. With this step, Jinhe Equipment is targeting not just the expansion of sodium-ion battery production itself, but the equipment leadership in the next round of battery technology route switching.
▍CBAK Energy: Announces Long-Term Capacity Plan for 12GWh Annual Production of Sodium-Ion Batteries
On September 23, CBAK Energy officially signed an investment agreement with the Nanjing Gaochun Economic Development Zone, and the 12GWh sodium-ion battery cell project is about to land in Gaochun. The project plans a total investment of about CNY 3 billion. After being fully completed and reaching production, it is expected to add CNY 4.8 to 5 billion in sales for CBAK Energy. The company plans to promote the implementation of project construction in the second half of 2027.
Specifically in terms of products, the newly built production line will realize the scaled manufacturing of the 32140 series sodium-ion battery cells. This product has completed multiple rounds of strict performance verification, possessing excellent comprehensive performance in wide temperature range, high safety, and long cycle life. Its discharge retention rate in a -40°C low-temperature environment remains outstanding. It can adapt to complex working conditions with large temperature differences in different regions from north to south. The product faces diversified scenarios such as household energy storage, portable energy storage, light transportation vehicles, and backup power supplies.
The project will focus on the R&D, scaled production, and system integration business of sodium-ion battery cells. It adopts a lithium-sodium shared production line design concept, which can realize flexible switching between the production of lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries. After completion, it will output sodium-ion battery products to diversified markets such as energy storage, light power, and special power supplies. However, it should be noted that the 12GWh annual capacity of sodium-ion batteries is a long-term construction planning goal of CBAK Energy, not the existing completed capacity.
CBAK Energy also revealed that in the future, the company's R&D plans will also include 46-series and 60-series large cylindrical cells for higher capacity applications, as well as dedicated high-rate cells for emerging AIDC backup power applications.
▍China Sodium Battery: Delivers Qinhuangdao 20MW/80MWh Sodium-Ion Energy Storage Project
On September 22, China Sodium Battery officially announced that the complete set of equipment for the Qinhuangdao 20MW/80MWh sodium-ion energy storage project signed with Clou Electronics has been officially dispatched and delivered. Since the signing of the procurement agreement by both parties on March 4, the project has gone through stages such as plan implementation, production integration, and factory joint debugging. This delivery verifies that China Sodium Battery has mature full-chain delivery capabilities for large-capacity sodium-ion energy storage projects.
According to the agreement, China Sodium Battery provides a full set of sodium-ion energy storage equipment for this project, with a total contract amount of nearly CNY 100 million. The supply scope covers core equipment such as the converter and step-up system and battery cabins, including key components such as polyanionic technology route sodium-ion cells, BMS systems, temperature control systems, and fire protection systems.
At the product level, China Sodium Battery's series of products, including sodium-ion/LFP cylindrical batteries, sodium-ion prismatic batteries, and sodium-ion containerized energy storage systems, have been applied in multiple energy storage scenarios. In particular, the 588Ah Panshi stacked sodium-ion cell is a key product for China Sodium Battery to move towards large-scale energy storage scenarios.
In addition, in April, China Sodium Battery also announced its overseas capacity plan: it will complete all construction work of the sodium-ion battery production base in Malaysia and achieve full production in 2027, creating a full industry chain capacity base integrating the production of sodium-ion battery anode materials, cell R&D and manufacturing, and battery system module integration, and building a localized and integrated manufacturing and technical service system.
▍Pylon Tech: Batch Delivery of Over 10MWh Sodium-Ion Cells
Recently, Pylon Tech officially announced the successful completion of the batch delivery of over 10MWh sodium-ion cells. Customer actual measurement feedback shows excellent cycle performance. This batch of products is 72174-type 170Ah sodium-ion cells, which will be used for sodium-ion energy storage projects. Part of them will be delivered to a large central state-owned enterprise, and the other part will be used for a photovoltaic energy storage project in Xinjiang.
This batch of cells is not the first to be landed. It is revealed that the 72174-type sodium-ion cells delivered in this batch are of the same model as those used in Pylon Tech's Tibet energy storage project. Since the project was put into operation, the cells have been continuously operating in complex environments such as high altitude and low temperature, which has also accumulated real application data for product performance verification.
According to Du Songfei, the executive person in charge of the project, in the early stage of cooperation, the customer had a relatively full understanding of the operation status, real-time monitoring data, and cell operation performance of the Tibet project, and had a high recognition of the product itself, which accelerated the confirmation of the overall plan and project promotion. From the timeline, the order was received at the end of May, production started in early June, and all were completed and ready to go in early July. Due to coordination with the other party's project progress, formal delivery was made in August. The pace from ordering to delivery was compact.
Notably, the volume of 10MWh is not considered large in the energy storage industry, but the significance of this delivery lies in the fact that the same model of cell has already run out actual operation data in the high-altitude and low-temperature environment of Tibet, and based on this, it has obtained orders from central state-owned enterprises and the Xinjiang project. From verification to delivery, Pylon Tech has already run through a section of the path.
▍NaMei Technology: Sodium-Ion Battery Orders Increased by 81.66% Year-on-Year from January to August
On September 27, according to the official WeChat account 'Today Yibin', since the beginning of this year, NaMei Technology's sodium-ion battery orders have continued to rise, and the production line is almost non-stop. As of now, the company's product order production schedule has been arranged until December; from January to August this year, its domestic and foreign order amount increased by 81.66% year-on-year.
In addition to orders, NaMei Technology has also ushered in new breakthroughs on the capacity front. On September 16, the country's first GWh-level full-tab large cylindrical sodium-ion battery intelligent production line was officially put into production. The planned annual production capacity is 1.5GWh. It is the core mass production base for sodium-ion batteries invested by NaMei Technology in Bazhong City, Sichuan Province, with a total investment of about CNY 500 million, and is expected to achieve an annual operating income of over CNY 600 million. On the same day, NaMei Technology released the 'Najiu' 330Ah new sodium-ion battery product for energy storage. This product combines the advantages of large capacity, long cycle life, and high rate, and can cover three scenarios: frequency regulation energy storage, hybrid energy storage, and long-duration energy storage.
Both orders and capacity are moving forward, but cost is the key variable that determines how far this round of growth can go. Previously, Zhou Zhiyong, Chairman of NaMei Technology, publicly stated that the downward trend of sodium-ion batteries is certain. Specifically, the cost of sodium-ion batteries is expected to drop to about CNY 0.5/Wh this year, and is expected to drop to about CNY 0.4/Wh in 2027. Ultimately, the cost of sodium-ion batteries will be in the range of being lower than lithium-ion batteries and slightly higher than lead-acid batteries, and the cost-effectiveness advantage will become more and more obvious.
▍Sodium Energy Era: Subsidiary Wins Batch Orders for Sodium-Ion Energy Storage Cabinets in Europe
Sodium Energy Era recently revealed that its subsidiary, Qibiao New Energy, has won a batch of orders for sodium-ion battery energy storage cabinets and DC cabins in the European market, covering the main specification products of energy storage cabinets and DC cabins. They will be used in scenarios such as commercial and industrial energy storage, photovoltaic energy storage, and integrated photovoltaic, energy storage, and charging. To ensure delivery, the production line of Sodium Energy Era's Xiangtan production base has entered a full-load operation state, and all employees are stepping up production scheduling.
The weight of this order should be viewed from the pace of Qibiao New Energy's going global. Qibiao New Energy only started to layout the overseas market in 2025. This batch order is a major breakthrough in its European business, meaning that the products have completed the leap from market contact to batch supply in just about a year.
In terms of product design, this batch of energy storage cabinets and DC cabins has been adapted to the actual energy consumption needs of European commercial and industrial users. They can be flexibly deployed in scenarios such as factory parks, commercial buildings, and charging stations. Coupled with distributed photovoltaic systems, they realize the closed-loop operation of 'power generation - energy storage - charging', helping users complete peak-valley arbitrage, demand management, and emergency backup power. Safety, wide temperature range operation, and cycle life are their main selling points, especially targeted optimization for the usage needs under the cold climate conditions in Northern Europe.
Beyond orders, Sodium Energy Era's layout in the sodium-ion battery industry chain is also worth attention. The company's business covers precursors, hard carbon anodes, to energy storage system integration. Its energy storage products and solutions have achieved shipments to countries such as Austria and the Netherlands. In terms of upstream materials, the first phase of the 5,000-ton annual production line of biomass-based hard carbon anodes has been fully put into use, with stable and qualified products. In the first quarter of 2026, the company successfully entered the supply chain of multiple leading sodium-ion battery enterprises and achieved batch supply, and market recognition increased rapidly. As early as 2025, its energy storage sector sales had exceeded CNY 70 million.
Note: The content of this article is only for sorting out public information in the energy storage industry, industrial research, and objective analysis. The listed companies mentioned in the text are only used as reference cases for the industry chain and do not serve as any investment basis. The market has risks, and investment needs to be cautious.