UK-based Faradion bags first order for sodium-ion batteries from ICM Australia, plans to set up manufacturing in India

UK-based Faradion, a leading player in sodium-ion battery technology, has bagged its first order from ICM Australia, a privately owned investment group.

Faradion says that the sodium-ion batteries offer exceptional superiority over lithium-ion batteries, are likely to revolutionise the automobile/mobility, storage and mobile sectors across the world. The company says its battery technology provides similar performance to conventional chemistries, while replacing expensive materials such as cobalt and lithium with the far more abundant sodium. Unlike lithium-ion batteries, Faradion says its sodium-ion batteries have exceptional thermal stability and safety, which means they can be safely transported and maintained at zero volts.

India a potential hub
Faradion says that India is one of the largest markets for mobile devices across the world, and the country has also demonstrated significant progress in the adoption of EV technology, which makes it a priority market. Further, as the world seeks out alternatives to China-dependent lithium-ion batteries, the company says its sodium-ion based technology offers a promising solution. In line with this, Faradion is actively exploring manufacturing presence in India for its sodium-ion batteries for diversified applications.

Having seen significant interest in regions such as the US, Europe and India due to its performance, safety and price point, James Quinn, CEO of Faradion says Australasia is the next logical region for Faradion given the market conditions. “Faradion is accelerating large scale industrialisation of its safe, low cost, sodium-ion energy storage technology. After Australia, we foresee India as our next priority big market, given the huge growth in mobile devices and a bigger electric mobility market waiting to grow rapidly” said Quinn.

The company says that in recent years, Australia and New Zealand have demonstrated a steady uptake in battery storage in residential, commercial and grid-scale applications due to factors including significant reductions in the cost of storage and solar systems; increasing cost of electricity, concerns about blackouts and financial incentives and policies from the government.

Thomas Gregson, ICM Australia Investment Director said, “This order represents a first step for an Australian company to commercialise world leading sodium-ion technology, and we’re pleased to be offering a premium product that is safe and price competitive to the Australasian market. We have seen large interest in energy storage solutions recently and believe the Faradion technology can provide, in a sustainable way, the energy security customers require at attractive ROIs.”