LG Energy Solution Accelerates Sodium-Ion Push as CATL Secures European Order First
N.R. Finch
LG Energy Solution plans to build a sodium-ion mother line in Korea by 2026 and begin validation in 2027, but CATL has already signed a 5 GWh deal with European integrator Alfen — putting it at least one full step ahead in the sodium-ion energy-storage race.
What exactly is LG Energy Solution building?
LG Energy Solution will set up a sodium-ion mother line — a verification line that runs final mass-production processes, testing cell performance, yield, quality consistency, and manufacturing scalability all at once — at its Ochang plant in Korea by 2026.
From 2027, it will use cells from this line for proof-of-concept tests with global customers and real-grid deployments.
This means → LG's playbook is "prove we can manufacture at scale first, then sell." Actual signed orders are still at least one to two years away.
Are LG and CATL taking different manufacturing paths?
CATL uses a winding process — rolling electrode sheets like a scroll. LG chose its in-house AZS stacking process — layering sheets flat to use internal cell space more efficiently.
LG says stacking delivers higher energy density at the same cell size, less electrode deformation, and better cycle life and safety.
In plain terms = the two companies are betting on different ways to "pack" a battery — one rolls, one stacks — each convinced its method squeezes more energy into the same box and lasts longer.
How far ahead is CATL?
CATL signed a memorandum with European renewable-energy integrator Alfen to deploy 5 GWh of sodium-ion storage in the Netherlands and wider Western Europe from 2027.
Its Tener system has a per-unit capacity of 30 MWh, supports 15,000 charge-discharge cycles at 25 °C with an expected 25-year service life, and retains roughly 92% energy capacity at −20 °C.
China deliveries start September 2026, with 1 GWh expected by year-end; global shipments begin June 2027.
This means → CATL has crossed from "can build" to "can sell," while LG is still at "proving it can build" — a gap of roughly eighteen months.
How big is CATL's capacity ambition?
Chairman Zeng Yuqun has said sodium-ion batteries could eventually replace 30 % to 40 % of the existing battery market.
CATL is reportedly preparing to invest about RMB 5 billion in Fujian province to add 40 GWh of sodium-ion capacity.
This reflects a full commitment, not a pilot — CATL is backing sodium-ion with real capital as a mainstream storage chemistry.
How much cheaper are sodium-ion batteries, and where do they fit?
CMoney estimates sodium-ion manufacturing costs could be 30 % to 40 % lower than lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries.
Raw materials — including soda ash — are abundant and far less exposed to supply concentration or price swings than lithium.
In plain terms = sodium-ion's biggest selling point is not outperforming lithium on specs; it is being cheaper and supply-chain-stable, ideal for stationary storage and cold-climate use where range is irrelevant but longevity matters.
Near-term, sodium-ion is more likely to complement lithium-ion than to replace it in high-energy-density applications such as EVs.
Does LG Energy Solution still have a window?
In North America, Chinese suppliers dominate the LFP supply chain, making diversified sourcing difficult. Sodium-ion manufacturing is still early-stage, and non-Chinese capacity still has a window.
LG is considering converting part of its existing lithium-ion lines to sodium-ion, cutting capex and shortening the path to commercialization.
This means → LG's differentiator is not purely technical — it is the identity of being a non-Chinese supplier. If North American and European buyers want to hedge supply-chain risk, LG's sodium-ion products carry structural demand.
Content is for reference only, not financial advice.