Zhongna Energy has launched the world's first 10,000-ton sodium iron sulfate cathode material factory, and the price of sodium battery materials is expected to drop to the "above 10,000 yuan" range.

On January 17th, the production base of sodium iron sulfate cathode materials of Zhongna Energy in Meishan, Sichuan, was officially put into operation. This is the world's first production project of sodium iron sulfate materials to achieve a production capacity of ten thousand tons. The official operation of the project announces that the long - standing industry cycle dilemma of "market first or materials first" that has troubled the sodium - ion battery industry for years has been broken at one stroke. The industrialization of sodium - ion batteries will enter the real large - scale era.

With the release of the production capacity of this base, the price of sodium - ion battery cathode materials will reach the price range of "over 10,000 yuan". Compared with the current mainstream lithium iron phosphate materials, the cost is expected to be reduced by more than 50%. After the first - phase production capacity of the base reaches full production, the shortest delivery cycle is only one week, which can directly promote the implementation of a sodium - ion battery production capacity plan of at least 5 GWh.

 01 Cost Breakthrough: Material Prices Enter the "Ten - Thousand - Yuan Era", with a Cost Advantage of Over 50%

The sodium - ion battery industry has reached a critical turning point. As the core component of the battery system, the cathode material largely determines the performance and cost structure of the battery.

The polyanionic sodium iron sulfate cathode material, with its stable crystal structure, high safety, and excellent performance in a wide temperature range and at high rates, is becoming the key force driving the large - scale application of sodium - ion batteries.

The operation of Zhongna Energy's Meishan base not only means that the sodium iron sulfate material system has officially entered the stage of large - scale production of ten thousand tons but is also regarded as a structural breakthrough in the existing battery material cost system.

According to the company, with the release of large - scale production capacity, the price range of sodium - ion battery cathode materials is expected to drop to "over 10,000 yuan per ton". Compared with lithium iron phosphate cathode materials, the cost advantage is expected to exceed 50%.

Behind this cost breakthrough lies the fundamental difference in resource endowment: the crustal abundance of sodium is much higher than that of lithium, and the main raw materials of sodium iron sulfate are widely sourced and inexpensive. This gives sodium - ion batteries the inherent advantage of breaking through the constraints of lithium resources and building an independent and controllable supply chain from the source of materials.

The implementation of the ten - thousand - ton production capacity means that this cost advantage will move from theory to the market, bringing clear cost - reduction expectations to downstream battery manufacturers and accelerating the commercialization process of sodium - ion batteries in cost - sensitive fields such as energy storage and two - wheeled vehicles.

02 Breaking the "Egg - Chicken Dilemma": The Supply Chain is Unblocked, and Downstream Gets Certainty

For a long time, the sodium - ion battery industry has been trapped in the cycle dilemma of "market first or materials first" - downstream battery factories dare not expand production due to unstable material supply, while material enterprises find it difficult to expand production capacity due to the lack of large - scale orders.

The release of the ten - thousand - ton production capacity of the Meishan base has broken this deadlock at one stroke. After the first - phase production capacity reaches full production, the shortest delivery cycle can be compressed to one week, providing stable and reliable core material supply for downstream customers.

"We can now design products, plan production capacity, and explore the market with confidence," said a representative of a participating battery manufacturer. This means that sodium - ion batteries have taken a substantial step from samples to commercial products.

Currently, the base has directly promoted the implementation of a sodium - ion battery production capacity plan of at least 5 GWh, and the industrial chain has been connected.

 03 Industrial Collaboration: Opening New Scenarios for Energy Applications

The value of sodium - ion batteries is far more than just "low - cost substitution". In the cold regions of northern China, their low - temperature performance is significantly better than that of lithium - ion batteries; in the start - stop power supply scenario, their high - rate discharge and long - cycle characteristics are more advantageous; in the energy storage field, the cost and safety advantages provide a more economical option.

 What the Meishan base produces is not only cathode materials but also the key to opening new scenarios for energy applications. From the battery - swapping networks of two - wheeled vehicles, industrial and commercial energy storage to large - scale energy storage power stations, sodium - ion batteries are quietly expanding the boundaries of energy applications with their unique advantages.

"The essence of energy parity is not simply price competition but providing feasible, reliable, and affordable solutions for scenarios that were previously restricted by economy or technology through technological innovation," pointed out the technical director of Zhongna Energy.

It is reported that the company has formed strategic collaborations with nearly 20 leading enterprises in the industrial chain. Its products have been put into actual operation in several northern provinces and cities, and energy storage projects have also started to go overseas.

04 Local Empowerment: The Industrial Layout Behind the "Dongpo Speed"

The Meishan base has achieved the "Dongpo Speed" of "rapidly settling in 28 days, completing the roof - topping in 100 days, and being put into operation in the same year", which is the result of the combination of the local government's forward - looking industrial layout and the company's high - efficiency execution.

After the base reaches full production, it is expected to have an annual output value of over 4 billion yuan, driving local employment for more than 500 people and achieving a win - win situation for industrial introduction and regional development.

As a key part of Zhongna Energy's national production capacity network, the Meishan base will become an important strategic fulcrum covering the markets in East and Southwest China. "The Meishan base is not just a production factory but also a key move in Zhongna's 'national coordinated layout of production capacity' strategy and the regional headquarters in the western region. It echoes Zhongna's eastern base, one in the east and one in the west, building a sodium - ion battery material supply network that covers the whole country and radiates into the future. This means that one of Zhongna's core products - sodium iron sulfate cathode materials - will be able to serve customers across the country and even the world more efficiently and stably, laying a solid 'granary' foundation for the large - scale industrial application of sodium - ion batteries," introduced Xia Gang, the chairman of Zhongna Energy.

 05 The Sodium - Ion Battery Race Starts: The Market Size May Exceed 1000 GWh by 2030

With the advancement of the carbon - neutral process, sodium - ion batteries, as an important supplement to lithium - ion batteries, are entering a period of rapid development. Industry forecasts suggest that by 2030, the market size of sodium - ion batteries will reach 1000 GWh.

The timely operation of the Meishan base has given Zhongna Energy a favorable position in the trillion - level market.

"Mass production is just the first step in unblocking the supply chain," said the person - in - charge of Zhongna Energy. "Next, we will deeply cooperate with downstream partners from the product definition stage, jointly develop standardized and customized solutions for specific scenarios, and truly achieve the coordinated evolution of technology - driven and market - led development."

From the standardized containers of large - scale energy storage power stations, the battery - swapping cabinets for two - wheeled vehicles in urban alleys to the power systems of special vehicles with strict requirements for high power and wide temperature ranges, sodium - ion batteries are changing from a technical alternative to the dominant solution with both economy and adaptability.

This smart factory in Meishan not only produces cathode materials with a production capacity of ten thousand tons but also serves as the key catalyst to open the door to the "era of energy parity".

With the layout and implementation of more production capacity bases, a revolution led by sodium - ion batteries has begun - supported by resource independence, cost control, and performance adaptation, it will drive the new energy industry to shift from relying on a single technological path to a new pattern of multi - technology matrix collaboration and multi - level market penetration.

The end of this revolution will be a more inclusive, safer, and more resilient energy world. The curtain has been raised, and the pace of evolution is being defined by industrial fulcrums like the Meishan base.