November 7, 2025: South Korea’s LG Chem is teaming up with China’s Sinopec to develop materials for sodium ion batteries targeting ESS and EV applications in Chinese and global markets.

Under a joint development agreement, announced on November 4, Sinopec (China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation) said the partnership aims to accelerate the commercialization of sodium ion battery technologies, establish new business models, and extend cooperation into broader new energy and high-value materials sectors.

The partners said they had selected sodium ion because of the advantages the chemistry offered over lithium ion in terms of resource accessibility and cost efficiency. Enhanced safety and faster charging performance were also a key benefit.

Sodium ion batteries also maintain better capacity retention under low-temperature conditions, outperforming lithium iron phosphate batteries and demonstrating strong commercial potential.

The partners cited latest, unspecified industry research, indicating that China’s sodium ion battery market is expected to grow from 10GWh in 2025 to 292GWh by 2034, representing an average annual growth rate of around 45%.

By 2030, China is projected to account for over 90% of global sodium ion battery production.

As Batteries International reported last year, all the major lead and lithium battery manufacturers are exploring sodium ion technology.

Clarios, for example, teamed up with Natron Energy to formulate a manufacturing process for them. Natron, however, ceased operations this September. In January 2024, Clarios also teamed up with Altris, a Swedish sodium ion cathode and cell developer.

In July 2024, the first phase of China’s state-owned Datang Group’s new energy storage power station was connected to the grid in Qianjiang, Hubei Provence — making it the world’s largest operating sodium-ion battery storage system.