Santa Clara, Calif.-based sodium-ion battery maker Natron Energy Inc. is preparing to build a $1.4 billion plant in North Carolina that would be America’s first “gigafactory” for the technology, company and state officials announced Aug. 15.
The 1.2 million-square-foot plant would be built on a 437-acre site in Edgecombe County that had been set aside for a now-defunct Chinese manufacturer’s tire factory. The North Carolina factory would have a capacity of 24 GW, which the company says would increase its production capacity by 40 times.
The company opened its first commercial-scale plant earlier this year in Holland, Michigan. That plant has a capacity of 600 MW, which Natron said would serve as a “blueprint” for its future larger facilities.
Natron hopes to supply batteries from the plant for data centers, microgrids, electric vehicle charging and other uses. Their batteries do not require the same expensive minerals as lithium-ion batteries, claiming their product outperforms others in power density and recharge speed. Natron also said its batteries are non-flammable.
“This flagship manufacturing facility will dramatically accelerate our efforts to deliver sodium-ion batteries to customers hungry for safe, reliable and environmentally responsible energy storage solutions,” said Colin Wessells, co-CEO of Natron, in a statement.
A Natron representative said the company could not yet comment on the contractor selection.
Natron will receive a grant from the state’s Workforce Development Investment Program worth up to $21.7 million over 12 years. Officials also plan for the county to receive a $30 million Megasite Preparation Program grant from the state to help get it ready.
According to PitchBook, it has raised about $300 million from investors.
