Phenogy, a Swiss energy storage company, has launched Europe’s largest sodium-ion battery installation, marking a significant milestone in the region’s transition towards alternative battery technologies. Located near Bremen Airport in Germany, this innovative system provides 400 kW of power and nearly 1 MWh of storage capacity while utilizing an existing 50 kW solar array. Operating in island mode, it optimizes energy use on-site and supports electric vehicle charging.
The deployment’s success hinges on overcoming compatibility issues with inverters, given sodium-ion batteries’ broader voltage range compared to traditional lithium-ion systems. Phenogy has addressed this by implementing eight SMA Sunny Island X 50 inverters, which are versatile enough to handle various chemistries. This project represents one of the initial installations of this newly developed technology.
Phenogy’s PHENOGY 1.0 system is designed for a wide array of applications, including industrial and EV charging, although specific technical details are yet to be disclosed. Sodium-ion batteries are becoming a viable alternative to lithium-ion due to their cost-effectiveness and sustainable production potential, especially since sodium is more abundant and cheaper to extract. However, challenges remain regarding large-scale production and material sourcing, with China currently leading development and deployment efforts.
Max Kory, the company’s CTO, warns against excessive reliance on imports for lithium production, asserting that rising prices could tilt demand toward sodium-ion technology as a more sustainable and independently-sourced option for Europe and North America. Critical to this shift will be establishing local production capabilities for battery components, particularly cathodes and anodes.
Despite the current higher cost of sodium-ion systems compared to lithium iron phosphate (LFP), Phenogy anticipates an increasing interest in technology that provides supply chain independence. Customers are beginning to prioritize technology choices that align with strategic goals over mere cost considerations, reflecting a changing landscape in energy storage solutions. Founded in 2019, Phenogy employs around 60 staff across Europe and the US and collaborates with various partners, including academic institutions and specialized manufacturing firms, to strengthen its operations in this emerging field.