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UNIGRID’s sodium-ion home battery debuts in Europe, US is next
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UNIGRID has shipped the first units of its Na+Casa residential sodium-ion battery, with initial installations now live in homes across Europe. The California-based startup is targeting the US market by the end of 2026, pending North American certification requirements for sodium-ion technology. This debut marks a significant step for sodium-ion batteries, a emerging alternative to lithium-ion in home energy storage.
Home battery storage has grown rapidly as homeowners pair batteries with rooftop solar for backup power and lower electricity bills. While lithium-ion currently dominates the market, UNIGRID is betting that sodium-ion offers a safer, longer-lasting solution that avoids supply chain issues tied to lithium, cobalt, and nickel. The company claims its Na+Casa battery is designed to last 25 years, matching the typical lifespan of a solar system, potentially eliminating the need for mid-life replacement.
The battery stores 9.25 kilowatt-hours (kWh) and works with most hybrid inverters, suitable for both new solar installations and retrofits. UNIGRID says it is competitively priced with lithium-ion systems. A key safety feature is the elimination of thermal propagation risk, the chain reaction that spreads battery fires, though modern lithium-ion units already have multiple safety layers.
Another advantage is temperature tolerance: the battery operates from -40°F to 140°F (-40°C to 60°C), making it resilient in extreme climates. This could be particularly valuable during heatwaves and cold snaps, when energy demand spikes. The company is currently producing battery cells at a rate of 200 MWh per year but plans to scale to 2 GWh annually by 2027 through manufacturing partnerships in China, South Korea, and Japan.
“As residential energy bills rise – especially during extreme weather events such as the record heatwave we are seeing around the world – homeowners need storage that is safe, reliable, and financially sound,” said Darren H. S. Tan, CEO and co-founder of UNIGRID. “With Na+Casa, UNIGRID is moving NCO sodium-ion from just a promising technology to a tangible residential storage product.”
The move comes as sodium-ion batteries gain attention because sodium is abundant, inexpensive, and free of critical minerals. Their lower energy density is a drawback for electric vehicles but less of a concern for stationary storage, where weight and size matter less. If UNIGRID’s claims hold, Na+Casa could be a viable alternative for residential solar storage, potentially accelerating adoption.
Looking ahead, UNIGRID’s entry into the US market hinges on certification, but the European installations provide real-world validation. With production capacity set to increase tenfold in two years, the company aims to carve out a significant share of the home battery market. As energy costs and climate concerns rise, sodium-ion storage may offer a safer, longer-lasting path to energy independence.
